Dear Soon-to-Be College Grad,
The day is rapidly approaching. For most of us, this will be the second time someone hands us that little piece of paper, and for college, it seems like a very expensive piece of paper. But this time seems bigger, much bigger. After high school, we thought we were stepping into the real world, but after going through college, the real world actually becomes "real."
This final month of school is going to be tough. People are constantly going to ask where you see yourself in the future, if you have a job lined up, or if you are nervous to find a job in your field of study. People will ask you about graduate school and say, “There are no jobs in that field.” Trying to enjoy these last moments of freedom while writing five different papers is going to be difficult. Failing a class at this point just isn’t an option, period. But with little motivation and the warm weather, it seems slightly possible. Then you start to think of summer school, and that is just a no-go.
No more working part-time or not working at all, because school comes first, no more requesting days off for school events or because you have a life-altering test that day or the next. Say goodbye to winter break and spring break and last minute trips to Cabo. Eating top ramen and day drinking just doesn’t seem acceptable anymore, but let’s be honest, that won’t stop us. It’s time to put your skills to the test and start paying your student loans off. It’s time to build a career and update your wardrobe, tossing out your favorite, wear-every-day-to-class black leggings. Just kidding, I will die before that happens.
We all have to make our own path in this world, but I’m here to tell you that it’s OK to be scared. I’m scared. Terrified, actually. I’ve relied on my parents throughout this whole process, so it’s scary to go out on my own, for real this time. I’ve gotten used to homework assignments and seeing my friends every day on campus. But it’s all going to change.
So what if your friend already has a job lined up or is going to travel the world for a couple of years? You will figure it out. We all will. You have put too many hours in at the library, making flash cards for exams, and showing up to class hung over in PJs to be defeated by the unknown.
Yes, maybe it will take you a few months or a year to find a job, but don’t give up. You have worked way to hard to give up. So let’s embrace the unknown together because we are college graduates. We have been through the awkward high school stages, 21 runs and stressful nights; this is just a new chapter. If we got through that then we can get through anything, right?
So it’s OK to be scared, but it's what you do with that fear that matters. Keep going and keep achieving.
Sincerely,
Your fellow college grad.
