Looking back at my college years, I realize that college is truly a Disneyland for young adults.
When you first arrive, there’s this newfound freedom of being able to do whatever the f*** you want. Stay out all night before your Accounting final the following morning? Be my guest.
Don’t feel like going to class today, just because? Consider it done. It’s almost frightening how we’re given the reins like that because against our better judgement, we make wrong choices.
But the fact of the matter is, that college was the first place where we had the freedom to make ALL of our own choices. This is just one diamond out of the many treasures college has to offer. Yet, your college years will pass in the blink of an eye and then you’ll set out to join the real world, probably before you’re fully prepared to do so.
And when you enter the real world, there’s going to be a little bit of a shock or a transitionary period. Kind of like how there was when you entered college, and you thought “wow I can eat junk food everyday if I want”. Then 2 months and 10 pounds later, you found yourself missing your mom’s home-cooked meals.
I’m here to offer some perspective on what to expect when you enter the real world. Seniors, live in the present. As exciting as it is to graduate and start your first job, after a couple months you may find yourself missing your professors. Kidding! But, you will certainly miss aspects of college life, so make sure to really enjoy your last year.
1. You can't do whatever you want anymore.
Even though in all technicality, you can do whatever you want, you really can’t. It’s not like college where you can skip class, get the notes from your friend, and avoid any detrimental consequences. If you don’t feel like going to work, you have to use a sick day. Which, you only get a few of those a year, and you want to save them for when you’re actually sick (or really hungover).
2. You have a lot less free time.
Even with a packed schedule, in college you still had some moments of downtime during the week in addition to the weekend. When you start your first 8-5 job, it’s going to be a huge adjustment. You’ll feel a lot busier because you’re trying to cram in everything you want or need to do in the few hours you have to yourself each evening. It can be overwhelming at first, but like anything else it just takes some getting used to.
3. Happy hours are your holy grail.
You may have less free time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the time you have effectively! Happy hours become a regular routine for you and your work friends, non-work friends, all friends. Happy hours sustain both your social life and your sanity.
4. You make more money, so treat yoself every once in a while.
Chances are, you have more expenses when you enter the real world. Rent and the cost of living are likely higher than in your college town, but so is your income. While you should always be responsible with your money, it’s also important to treat yourself every now and then. You work hard and you deserve it!
5. Sedentary 15, the post-graduation "Freshman 15".
One thing that often surprises people after they start their first job, is the weight gain. You’re so busy and immersing yourself in your new job, your new routine, and adjusting to your new life that it creeps up on you. The sedentary 15 is how I like to refer to the weight gain which emerges from the shift to a sedentary lifestyle. In college, your body is used to an active lifestyle from walking miles across campus every day. When you start an office job, you’re primarily sitting for the majority of your day, and working out in the evenings can still fail to make up for the time that you’re spending sedentary.
6. Holidays become even more special.
Let’s face it-- we are spoiled in college. A whole week off during Thanksgiving, an entire month off during Christmas and 3 months off in the summertime? Vacation and holiday time are arguably the hardest change to adjust to when entering the real world. Many jobs, especially your first job, don't offer a ton of PTO. And while you will have national holidays off, you may only receive 1 or 2 days versus a whole week or a month. But on the bright side, this makes the holidays that much more precious for you. You really enjoy every single moment you have with your family and friends, because you don’t have a whole lot of time with them.
7. You will lose some friends and gain some too.
As much as you are certain that you will remain close with your friends from college, it’s inevitable that you will drift apart from some of them. Friends move away, some get married and start families immediately, others you may see every year, and some every weekend. There’s no easy way to predict who you will stay close with and who you won’t, but you will never have a shortage of friends. You’ll make new friends at work and bond from working at your first job together, and also befriend friends of friends.
8. Life won't be perfect or how you envisioned it.
Everyone has their own expectations when they graduate from college and sometimes it’s disappointing when things don’t match up with how you pictured them. Your first job may not turn out to be your dream career or you might start to miss your hometown. But regardless of how things don’t match up with your expectations, you will survive and figure out your next best steps. You learn and grow a lot when you go to college, but that growth does not stop after you graduate. There are plenty of life lessons still to be learned and while things may not be perfect, you learn how to be happy despite the imperfections.
