I am coming to the end of the roadmap. I started in preschool, went to kindergarten, then grade school, then middle and high school, with camp and summer jobs to fill the time in between. I took a detour and had a gap year, but got back on course and started college. Now the path is not so clear. After this academic year I, like so many other rising seniors, do not know what lies ahead, and it is terrifying.
This is the first and only time I will ever say this, but I envy my premed friends. Their journey through college may be tougher than mine, but at least they know where they (ideally) are going: med school, then residency, then a full doctor. Every step of the way is clearly marked - no room to get lost. Meanwhile, I am still trying to figure out which way is up.
I am a political science major, which — like other liberal arts majors — does not prepare me for anything in particular. Colleges try to spin this as a blessing. Liberal arts degrees, they say, provide broadly applicable critical reading, writing and thinking skills. Many soon-to-be graduates might beg to differ. Because we lack specific, technical knowledge, like the kind taught to our scientifically-inclined peers, us liberal arts folk lack direction. There are no jobs we are uniquely trained for.
This is not to say that pursuing the liberal arts is a waste of time; it just means it is not going to leave you with a straightforward, post-college path. Many students do not internalize this until they have one foot out the door. Once this realization sets in, some panic and run for the nearest law school. At times, I have been tempted to do the same, but I just google “lawyers' happiness" and decide I would rather go back to panicking.
I am now starting to seriously think about the fields I would like to work in, and the organizations I would like to work for. Reflecting on my extracurricular and internship experiences has made it easier for me to figure out what does and does not interest me. But interest is only one side of the equation. The other is money. I want to work in an area I genuinely enjoy, but I also know that the life I envision for myself will cost decent sums of money. I hope to have at least three kids and to send them all to Jewish day school — to instill in them the sense of Jewish identity that is central to my life — and I know that is going to be expensive. I also would like to travel which will also be expensive. Although other students may not anticipate the same costs that I do, I know many of them worry about finding their own interest/money equilibrium.
There are a few things that have eased my anxiety about life beyond college. First, I know that I have built up a decent resume: I have taken leadership positions on campus, have done summer internships, and have a good GPA. I also have realized that I have a network of friends, family and colleagues willing to help me find a job. They may not be able to secure me one, but they can give me guidance and point me in the right direction. Additionally, there is no reason to believe that only one particular career is right for me. There may be many that I find satisfying, and If I land one that is not, I can switch. I am not married to it. Lastly, I know that there have been a lot of people who have come before me and have been in the same position, and they have done just fine.
So although the unknown is scary, there's no reason to melt down in the face of it. Rising seniors may not have a roadmap anymore, but each one has their own set of resources to help them navigate through. If we keep that in mind, and are proactive about planning our futures, I am confident that we can end up where we are supposed to be.
