Coming up on the end of your college years is intimidating, but everyone has to do it. Some people have a plan and are heading towards something they've been planning their entire life.
If you're like me that plan ended up not being what you want from life. When I realized I didn't have a plan anymore I panicked. However, the more I asked around there were a lot of people like me. I decided I was going to go on a journey to help me figure out what I wanted out of life.
1. Spend time doing something for yourself every day.
Whether it’s reading your bible, reading a book you’ve always wanted to or just taking out time to watch that show you’ve always been wanting to see, just do it. One hour won’t change the history of your life. You never know when one of these will uncover something you have never explored.
2. Talk to people in line at restaurants and coffee shops.
We miss out on a lot of opportunities by tuning out the world and using our phones. Someone in front of you may be looking for an assistant or a worker for their company. You already have something in common with them (or you wouldn’t be in the same place)! If nothing else you’re gaining experience in talking to people in a professional manner.
3. Be open to adventures.
Go out and do something that you don’t think you’ll be good at. See how you do with talking to people or how you do on outdoorsy things. By expanding your hobbies you decrease the limits you believe about yourself.
Take the time to prove to yourself that even if it scares you that doesn’t mean it’s bad! Outside of just challenging yourself, you meet so many people who look at life differently and can help you grow personally.
4. Talk to the people in your life.
Don’t be afraid to ask your friend’s mom to let you go in and shadow her in her real estate business or your aunt in her human resources job. These are great ways to connect with people and explore careers with people who would be honest with you.
5. Don’t feel like you have to do what you’ve studied.
Just because you study psychology doesn’t mean you have to be a therapist. You can find ways that you want to apply those skills that make you happy. The same goes for shadowing people, don’t feel you owe them because they opened up their career to you.
If it isn’t a good fit enjoy the experience and learn from it. Even if your degree isn’t in business but you fall in love with owning a store, work with people who can help you with the aspects you don’t understand and make the things you do understand yours.
6. Make choices that make you happy.
Ultimately your job is to build a life you are happy and content with. No one is going to hold over your head that you’re not a vet even if you told them that’s what you wanted to do when you were five.
Let your success be measured by how you feel about your life and the things you involve yourself in.
Even if you’re just a semester away from being a college graduate and you have no plan, don’t panic. Open yourself up for opportunities and you may be surprised at what comes your way.