11 Ways To Respond When People Ask You What You're Doing Post-Graduation | The Odyssey Online
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11 Ways To Respond When People Ask You What You're Doing Post-Graduation

Maybe you're going to cry, maybe you're going to take a nap... but your family wants to know.

Kaitlynn Bartley
Dec 19, 2016
Cambridge, Massachusetts
30
11 Ways To Respond When People Ask You What You're Doing Post-Graduation
Creative Commons

As the holidays begin every college student is dreading the questions asked by family members and family friends. Every Christmas I get the same questions. My least favorite is, "What are you going to do with a degree in English?" I also really enjoy, "So, what's your GPA again?" Another great one I always hear is, "So, you're working on campus? How's that going for you?"

Now that I'm a senior, every time I see family members I get a new question: "What's next?" All college seniors will understand this struggle. What is next? For me, I might be going to grad school. I hope I will be. I hope I'll be studying Higher Education, but I don't know for sure. If I don't... who knows what's next? Certainly not me. So here are 11 things to say if you don't know what's next.

1. "Well, I've applied for over 25 jobs and I've even put my resume in a bottle and sent it out to sea. You never know what's out there, right?"

This is great! It's exactly what they want to hear.

2. "I'm taking a gap year to find myself, eat through my savings on travel, and get many new piercings in ridiculous places."

No matter what you say, this is what your family members will hear when you say "gap year."

3. "I'm actually still planning out the next 50 years of my life, could you give me a moment to work out the kinks?"

Remind them that this decision will affect your life, it's not just choosing what you want for dinner. This reminds them how hard of a decision you're trying to make.

4. "I'm taking a long nap."

Just be honest, okay?

5. "I'm making my YouTube debut!"

I like this one because it's funny, but no one will know if you're kidding or not.

6. "I'm going to finish my novel."

If you're a creative person like me, this is the perfect answer because they'll be too scared to question it.

7. "I'm moving back into my parents' house."

Again... be honest.

8. "I'll be slowly and painfully drowning in my student debt!"

Sadly, this is going to be true for most of us. This will be the shortest 6 months of our lives.

9. Don't say anything, just faint.

No, it's not being over dramatic if you really feel the need to get everyone to shut up.

10. Quickly change the subject by asking them, "What's next for you?"

IT WORKS I'VE DONE IT!

11. "I'm going to cry for the next few months until I figure out some sort of plan."

Again, sometimes just telling the truth is the best idea.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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