One of my strengths from the StrengthsFinder® assessment (now CliftonStrengths®), is Focus. As the strength’s description reveals, “Where am I headed?” is something I ask myself every day. In life, I seek a clear direction and I make goals for everything, helping me to stay on track and determine my priorities. Although there is a purpose behind every activity I am involved in and every action I take, I love challenging myself and building new relationships, enjoying the journey along the way.
Does this sound like you or does this mindset sound totally crazy and stressful? Either way, I am sure you can understand why this realization has caused me a bit of stress: I still have not determined what my “aim”--my goals or my destination--are for my life after graduation. In college, my overarching aim was simple: to get a degree. But now, as I enter my career and the workforce, something I will be doing for the next 40 years of my life, my overarching aim is totally unknown. For those of you that have dreams of becoming a CEO or owning your own business, your goals may be a little bit clearer as you make steps to work towards these dreams. But for people like me who haven’t discovered their dream career, it may be a little less clear. We still know that the first job is important and may put us down a path that we may or may not follow for the rest of our lives.
Because I am still unsure of where I am headed, I think about it every day, and is seems that new ideas pop into my head about what I could do all the time. Here are ten options I've considered for life after graduation:
1. Just go to Europe, be a travel blogger, and live out of my suitcase and an AirBnB.
Sounds like a dream to me!
2. Go visit Boston or New York or Denver and see if I like it.
I am so open to relocating after college, and these are three cities that I have never been to, but are apparently perfect for me. I want to learn more and possibly go check them out for myself!
3. Go to Albuquerque, New Mexico.
My sister had this idea of moving to New Mexico after college. “It is such an underrated state,” she explains. Maybe I could go live there with her, too!
4. Stay in Minneapolis and get one of those “dream apartments” with friends.
If I stayed in Minneapolis, I could live in one of those sleek apartments in Uptown or by the Stone Arch Bridge. I've always thought would be cool to live there (if I can find one that is affordable). What's more is that I would be closer to my parents and some of my high school and college friends.
5. Move somewhere totally new where I know nobody.
This seems like such a fun and exciting challenge...bring it on.
6. Work a corporate job at a big company, then go get my Master of Business Administration.
Also known as the most logical career move to make.
7. Work at a Public Relations (PR) agency.
I am also interested in PR and communications, so I could see myself working at an agency instead of a corporate company after college.
8. Make my way to a nonprofit about which I am really passionate.
I have always been interested in nonprofit, and maybe I could make the move to one right away.
9. Do something abroad.
There are so many options here: traveling, writing, working in the international education industry or getting started on my new “Running the Globe” goal.
10. Don’t get a real job yet...but what would I do instead?
This idea still needs a little bit more development, but I know there are tons of volunteer organizations and other out-of-the-ordinary first job opportunities just waiting to be discovered
So, now what?
With all these ideas swirling around in my head, I know that some are more realistic than others and I understand that I might not end up doing any of these options.
So, what do I do? I keep working hard, I keep asking people for guidance and advice, I keep making steps to figure it out and, most importantly, I keep praying. I rely on my faith and my trust in the Lord, who I know has prepared me for this time of my life and will reveal His plan for me.
I find peace and guidance from verses such as Joshua 1:9:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Even though I don’t know what I am doing after graduation, I know that it will all work out better than I could ever imagine or dream up myself. If you are in the same boat as me, I hope you can find encouragement in knowing that you are not alone and that God has something great in store for each of us.
