I had a good time in college. I met some new friends, I learned some important lessons, and I gained some self confidence. On occasion in college I would think of the future and how the people I have known for four years would soon go their own ways for the most part. Then I would think to myself, where will I go?
It was a long four and a half years in college, searching for what I really wanted. By the time I hit my second to last semester of college, I started panicking. The stress hit me and I suddenly felt like I needed to know my future at that certain point in my life. As part of my course work, I had to complete an internship before I graduated. Since I was almost at the end of my second to last semester with summer standing in the way of where I was and my official last semester, I decided to try and find an internship for the summer. It was honestly easier than I thought it would be. I just had to had to believe in myself.
I got an internship over the summer at an Advertising Firm in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana, and I couldn't believe they really wanted me to come intern for them. Then I realized how many interns they actually had. Seventeen. Seventeen. I'll admit, I felt a little cheated, almost like they were just stocking up for the winter. But it actually turned out to be pretty informative and helped me realize that I really wanted to work in an Ad firm after I graduated.
So there I was, interning over the summer and then there I was walking across the stage in my cap and gown on December 16th, 2016. It was surreal. It was a great day. Fast forward to me on my couch and it's now present day, January 8th, 2017 and I am currently job searching for something that I actually qualify for.
One thing that I was never told about graduating college is the overwhelming feeling of not being good enough that eats you up if you are not set with a career right after. Thoughts will just set up camp in your head during all the free time, and if there's nothing pushing you or motivating you, it just gets worse.
For all you recent graduates going through what I am right now, you are not alone! I promise, the disappointment and the unpreparedness that you feel will all seem like nothing once you find something you love doing. I'm basically always searching for something all the time, forever on my laptop trying to feel like I belong to one certain group of professionals, but I don't. I don't belong anywhere. Not now, not yet anyway.
I just have to remember that I'm not completely jobless, I work part-time, and to be honest, it's only been a few weeks since I've graduated. I may find something today or next week. Life is uncertain and it's going to bother me. I'm slowly learning, and so will you.
