Well, here’s the end of another chapter that will start your journey toward your career. I’m sure there’s a lot going through your mind about your life right now and your future. It’s okay if you don’t know where you're going. I want you to take deep breaths. This is coming from a college student watching my friends graduate and moving on to adult life. I know that my time will come soon too.
It’s scary to jump into the real world with no clue as to what you should do. If you’re lucky, you already have a job lined up after graduation. Before you know it, you will be out on your own. If you never had a budget before, you do now. You have to plan and make adult decisions, including sacrificing going out to pay for next month’s rent. Your young days seem over, because you imagine this adult life will be difficult and will suck you dry of any fun. Then, you realize why your parents act the way they do.
What if you don’t get a job? That’s the normal reaction of a college graduate. The struggle of submitting job application after job application, trying to find one that suits what you learned in your major during the time you spent in college. Your loans need to be paid somehow, not to mention you just want to get out of the house as fast as possible. Most likely, you can’t stand to live with your parents any longer. We desire freedom, because that’s our nature as human beings. We have stages in our lives that are created through different transitions. Living with your parents and relying on them was a part of your childhood stage. Being a teenager and rebelling against your parents was the normal teenage stage. Going to college and living alone, or even making other decisions, were parts of the in-between stage of relying on someone and living on your own.
This all seems way off topic, but it comes together to what I understand as part of life. Just because you didn’t get that immediate dream job doesn’t mean you should give up. Don’t ever forget what you worked hard for, because it will pay off one day. We aren’t all going to get jobs immediately after. We don’t know what the future holds for any of us by leaving our college days and even our youth. Don’t leave your youth entirely, but remember to keep it in your heart. In life, transitions seem difficult and troublesome, but they help us to grow. If our parents can do it, we can too. Life isn’t easy or fair; I bet you figured that out a few times when you professor gave you a hard time with your grade. Trust that everything will work out. Can you honestly say that the person you are now is the same person you were when you were 13 years old? You had to face trials and persevere to create change in your identity.
That’s the same with this stage in your life. Post-college seems difficult, but you will get through it. I know it might not seem too helpful from someone who hasn’t graduated yet, but I’m saying it in hopes that you might feel encouraged - I want to be too. It’s a good reminder for all of us when we see fellow alumni succeed in their dreams. As much money as we spent here, it shouldn’t be going to waste. Our future is what we make of it. When I graduate, I don’t know which way I’m going and if I’ll be a teacher right away. I know that it will happen, but it takes time. I might need to take up substituting and nanny some children just to get by. When the time comes, it will work out, and I’ll be happy I kept trying. I hope that you choose to not give up or feel discouraged. Chase those dreams and make a mark on this world. We all have a purpose, so be the change you want to see. Show others your success in being able to graduate from college to become your own professional. Don’t just settle over a long period of time, but push yourself to work harder to achieve what you want. You got this, college graduates. Show others what you can do once you step foot into the real world. Be different and unique. Stay strong and succeed. You have made it so far, and that’s something to be proud of.
