Though I can’t speak for all students, when talking to friends in their penultimate year of college a few common worries crop up. Whether it be in the US, Canada or the UK, college kids are feeling the pressure as their college days are coming to a close. When chatting with friends, I can’t help but notice how often the phrase, “Can you believe we’re already juniors?!” slips into the conversation. The phrase is said with shock at how fast time flies and both fear and excitement at what the future might bring. Here are four common worries both I and those around me have:
1. Finding a job or getting into grad school
As the college years count down, attention focuses on how to secure a job upon graduation. Ultimately, for me and those around me, college not only offers an education that broadens the mind but is also the stepping stone to a career in a field we desire. Junior year can be wrought with anxiety when it comes to making sure that you have sufficient work experience that will elevate you above the competition when applying for jobs. For those who plan to transition into grad school the pressure of finishing the college strong, succeeding in entrance exams and filling out applications is heavy.
2. Thinking about where you are going to live
After finally settling down in the city or town your college is located in, many feel like the place they have spent the past three or four years has become home. As junior year moves along you can’t help but contemplate where the next chapter of your life will bring you. Though it is exciting to think about moving to new cities, and even new countries, it can also be unsettling. Work or further education might bring you far away from what you have grown to love and seek comfort in. The uncertainty of uprooting and starting again is a common worry among my peers.
3. Figuring out what you want to do
Though many in their junior year begin to streamline their ideas about what they want to pursue in the future, equally as many students remain unsure of what exact path they want to take. Choosing between various incongruent interests and possible career paths in the third year of college can be nerve-wracking as the year speeds along. It can often be frustrating when looking to build up work experience towards a job in a specific field if you are unsure of what exactly you want to do.
4) Keeping in contact with old friends and making new ones
Many say that the friends you make at college will remain with you for the rest of your life. However, as you and your closest friends begin to plan ahead, your hopes and aspirations can tug you in completely different directions. Maintaining the strong connections you have built with people can be concerning, as keeping up to date with friends across oceans and through different time zones is challenging. More worrying still may be the prospect of making strong bonds with people once college is over. With your closest friends possibly on the other side of the states or even the world, the thought of building strong relationships again can be distressing.
Despite these worries, junior year is a time to enjoy the last days of college and savor experiences and relationships you have made, as well as make many more. Though the thought of the future brings forth many anxieties, it is also exciting to think about what opportunities and adventures lie ahead.
