Hey everyone,
As we begin our senior year, we are excited for many reasons. We're finally 21, our classes are more interesting, we basically run campus, and we have the best friends in the world to experience the entire year with. Even when we are all caught up in the excitement, every now and then we remember that we have to be real people soon and we panic.
Though it may not seem like it is true, I'm here to tell you that it is okay to have no idea what you're doing with your life after you graduate.
Some of us are set in our programs, applying to med school, starting a teaching job, or setting out on some crazy cool post-grad degree. Some of us just know exactly what we're meant to do and have the perfect track to get us there. And you know what? That's so awesome. I am so genuinely happy for all of you.
I, on the other hand, am heading into my senior year without the slightest clue what might happen when I graduate.
Though it doesn't feel good to respond to those daunting questions with something awkward like, "Yeah I have no idea, haha," it does take a lot of courage to admit that you're not sure what you want, and you want to keep looking for what is right. I mean, this is your entire life. Why on Earth would you have it all figured out?
One of the best quotes I've ever seen was chalked onto my kitchen wall by my incredibly smart and driven (and biomedical engineering) roommate. She wrote:
"At 23, J.K. Rowling was broke. Tina Fey was working at the Y.M.C.A. Oprah had just gotten fired from her first job as a TV reporter and Walt Disney had declared bankruptcy" (Read This If You're 23 and Lost).
You see? Even some of the world's most creative and inspiring people didn't really have a clue either. These people had their entire incredibly successful careers ahead of them and were at some point probably thinking, "Wow. I have no idea what is going on right now."
What it all comes down to is this: you might get discouraged that you don't have something lined up, but that doesn't mean there isn't something amazing coming your way. Maybe it takes a year working through unpaid internships, some time living at home, or maybe a backpacking trip through Europe. Whatever it is, you're going to be inspired and you'll find your way.
For now, worry about how amazing your last year as an undergrad is going to be. Let each moment linger, and don't forget to tell the people around you how much you love them. (Also -- try not to bomb that GPA you've kept up this whole time.) You'll figure it out and you will be amazing. I promise.
Sincerely,
An equally clueless member of the class of 2016
