Ah, finally done with school. No more homework. No more tests. No more studying. Feels great, right?

Then I ask myself, what is my purpose? Since I can remember, my purpose was to be a student. Each year you learn new things, pass your classes, and during all of that learning to be the person you're suppose to be through all of the positive and negative choices. School was important to me. I definitely had my ups and downs, failing grades, acing tests, etc. But, it was my purpose. I was a student.

I started UCF with nothing but happiness, I was so ready to go to college. I was so ready to move out and be without my parents. Side note, moving away to college and actually moving out to be an adult with a job, is NOT comparable. I blinked and I was graduated. It flew by. Before I knew it I was moving out of student housing, back to my parent's house, trying to figure things out for myself. If you are reading this with college in your near future, go to college with open arms. Be open to experiences and people. Learn who you are. Because eventually you will be graduated, and have to learn a whole new side to yourself.

As a post-grad, what is your most common thought? Who am I now? What am I suppose to do? Will someone give me a job? Will I be able to make my parents happy? A lot of emotions come with graduating. The pressure of failing. The pressure of disappointing the people around you, including yourself. The pressure of making sure you don't fall in love with the wrong person. The pressure of getting the career you've always wanted, or thought you wanted. The pressure of paying all those bills. The list can keep going. I know that I am not the only post-grad that thinks I should have my life figured out by now. We think we are supposed to have it all figured out. You graduate, smoothly transition into a career, move into the best apartment in town, and just have the best life. Right?

Worst of all... So, I can't wear running shorts and a big t-shirt to work...? Is this real life? Do I really have to wear dress pants, or even worse, flats?! Postgrad life is hard but also inevitable. Everyone has to experience it. It may hit some harder than others. You are sure of nothing. Of course with all this free time, you have plenty of chances to just analyze every little thing in your life. Then you just start comparing yourself, and everything seems more dramatic when it's just you and your thoughts.

I have to constantly remind myself, other people's successes are not my failures. I am not comparable to them simply because we are two different people. Reminder to you post-grads that understand where I am coming from, keep sending out your resumes, take your parent's advice, keep in touch with your loved ones, and remember how much you have accomplished so far. We are so young with so much life left. This is just the journey.