It's been six months since I walked across a "stage" and received my diploma. See, I should have thought life post-graduation was going to be a little lackluster when we didn't even get to walk across a stage, get our names called, or even have our school called before we received our diploma. No, instead once the doctorate and masters students had walked across the stage, all the undergraduates just walked up to a tent and got our degrees. No recognition or anything. That's when I realized my bachelor's degree almost meant nothing to the majority of the population and thus the people that would hopefully one day hire me.
Before I continue, I want all you undergrads who might be reading this to remember that finishing college and receiving your degree is a HUGE deal. If you go to a big state school and you graduate in the spring, it's probably not going to feel like what you slaved over for 4+ years means anything because the majority of the graduation ceremony will not be focused on your accomplishment. But what you did is an accomplishment and a big deal! And if someone asks right after you graduate when you're getting your master's degree, just walk away (or punch them in the face). We don't deserve the pressure, we deserve to celebrate!!
As I write this, I have been out of school and in the real world for about 6 months. It doesn't seem very long but when you don't have homework assignments, deadlines, football games and a million distractions, it is a long time. It also feels longer if "everyone you know" is moving on, getting grown up jobs, getting married, etc. Up until this exact moment in time, I only had a part-time job as a bakery assistant. My degree was in Public Health. So here I am getting paid next-to-nothing after receiving a 4-year degree in a super versatile field.
For months, I never thought I'd get a job and I started comparing myself to everyone I knew that graduated the same time I did. I stressed about being behind and not being good enough. But what was I behind in? Where was this profound study coming from that told me I was behind?
It was made up. When you prepare to finish your final semester/ terms or you are graduating now, never tell yourself you are behind. Yes, you may not have a job as quickly as someone who know, but you are not behind. If you are trying and putting yourself out there, you are not behind. In the midst of trying to find a health job I found a job at a bakery that I love. At times I have a hard time telling people where I work because it almost seems embarrassing to say I work in food service after I had graduated college, but the truth is that I love working in a bakery and I was able to have a job that was once a hobby.
Now, as I write this I just secured a job as an activities assistant in a care center. It's only part-time but to me, I don't view it as a negative. For me, it's a huge positive because now I get two jobs that fulfill me. One that fulfills my hobby, and another that fulfills my degree. It's a win-win for me.
As you continue through college, get to graduation and you enter the real world never give up applying for your dream job. But also, apply for jobs that you have a different passion in or something that's a hobby. Try not to compare your journey with everyone else's. I did. If you find yourself struggling to be content with where you are at, quit social media. I know that sounds crazy and impossible, but once you cut out those people that make you feel like you are behind or failing, it can do wonders. And if you don't get that full-time well-paying job right away, see it as a blessing in disguise. While people are already getting bogged down with their 9-5's right out of graduation, you can have that flexible schedule that will allow you to travel and pursue life when you are younger and more able to.
Since I have flexible scheduling at both of my jobs (the perks of being part-time), I have been able to travel to Mexico, San Francisco twice, Peru, Minnesota more times than I have been able to in 4 years (my home state), and, in a few months, Thailand for 3 weeks.
Don't get overly anxious about where everyone else is; focus on yourself. If traveling is important to you, then travel. If working is important to you (which it should be to an extent, so you can fund your adventures) then get some type of a job. Do what is important to you, find your hobbies again and discover new passions.
Life after college can be very tough because jobs are hard to find and we are very influenced by social media and what people are doing. Just try not to get sucked into the outside influence and focus on yourself. Trust, me it will be better.
Good luck with graduation and the rest of your college career!
