If you're like me and about to graduate college (or already have), then you are probably sick of being asked, "So what are you doing after graduation?" And again, if you're like me, your answer is probably along the lines of something like, "Still applying for jobs," "moving home," or just a plain, "I have no idea." Since entering my final semester of college, I have replied to this questions using all of these answers at some point in time. I've applied for job after job and have been getting either no response or a negative response. I came to terms with the realizations that I would have to move back home after being on my own for four years. The reality is, I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing and the future seemed pretty unclear to me. With a bunch of my friends getting jobs or internships, moving to different cities or states, or even some having a year or so more of college, I felt so alone that I didn't know what I was going to be doing once I graduated. I started to feel scared and panicked as I was starting to not see the light at the end of the tunnel. It felt like I was going nowhere and this was super discouraging to me.
After so much doubt, so much anxiety, I'm here to tell you, it's completely ok to have no clue what you are doing after graduation. It's not the end of the world if you have no idea what you're gonna do when you graduate. And for the people who say it's not ok, they're lying. I didn't realize until I was graduating how many people didn't have jobs lined up right away or are moving home as well. So many of my friends who have already graduated didn't get a job right away or even move out right away. It's more common than we think it is.
If you don't have a job lined up as soon as you walk off the stage, that's ok! Take the time for yourself. You are finally at a point where you don't have to worry about school work or extracurriculars and don't have to worry about a job yet. Take some time for yourself. Relax, hang out with friends, travel and do whatever you want before you get busy again. And in the meantime, keep searching and applying for jobs. The right thing will come along at the right time.
If you have to move back home after college, that's ok too! The transition from being on your own for four-five years and then moving home can be challenging. Again, this is something that is more common than not. There are always positives to moving home. You save so much money! Free room and board, free laundry, you don't have to pay for groceries and you get to eat nice home cooked meals. By living at home, you can start saving money to move out to a nice place that you will be happy in.
So even if you have no idea what you are doing after college, it's ok. You have the rest of your life to work. So take the time to enjoy and relax after all of the years of hard work and stress you put in, The right thing will come a long at the right time for you, and the tough times are only temporary.
