Things You Didn't Know About Post-College Graduation
One moment you’re decorating your freshman dorm room and the next you’re walking across the "stage", receiving your degree. But let's be honest—adjusting to the real world is a difficult process, and while our mothers, grandparents, fathers, etc. did all they could to make the transition easier, there were a few things missing from our grown-up manual.
Finding your "dream job" may take some time
Mothers always tell us that things take time. But did you think that that advice would apply to finding a job? You may assume that your stellar resume and internship experience will get you your dream job immediately but in reality, landing the job will take time, networking, and hard work. You may have to work a part time job, take an internship, or start out in a field totally unrelated to what you want to do. Sending off hundreds and hundreds of resumes and cover letters only to receive rejection letters or worse—silence—can be disheartening, but you have to believe in yourself.
You can’t stay up 'til 3 a.m. and still be functional the next morning
Remember the bedtime your mother enforced when you were a kid? She didn’t tell you that you would also need one as an adult, did she? In college, you were nocturnal. You pulled all-nighters and still aced your English exam the next morning. You partied Sunday night and still made it to your 10 a.m. seminar Monday morning. Unfortunately, you can’t keep this up forever. If you’re working a 9-to-5 job, you’re going to want to set a regular bedtime during weekdays; afternoon naps don’t exist when you’re working full time!
Remember the bedtime your mother enforced when you were a kid? She didn’t tell you that you would also need one as an adult, did she? In college, you were nocturnal. You pulled all-nighters and still aced your English exam the next morning. You partied Sunday night and still made it to your 10 a.m. seminar Monday morning. Unfortunately, you can’t keep this up forever. If you’re working a 9-to-5 job, you’re going to want to set a regular bedtime during weekdays; afternoon naps don’t exist when you’re working full time!
Sometimes you may have to be dependent on your parents (and that's okay)
Neither you, nor your parents, could have planned on you coming back home after college or needing financial help. If you’re living at home or your parents are helping you out with food and rent, be grateful for their assistance. Opt to do extra chores around the house or run some errands. Work hard to show them you’re still being responsible, and get a part-time job until you are able to secure your dream position.
Neither you, nor your parents, could have planned on you coming back home after college or needing financial help. If you’re living at home or your parents are helping you out with food and rent, be grateful for their assistance. Opt to do extra chores around the house or run some errands. Work hard to show them you’re still being responsible, and get a part-time job until you are able to secure your dream position.
You don't know everything
Your parents raised you to be a strong, independent person but they may not have told you that there will be moments you’ll need to ask for help. As an adult, you may be tempted to take on the I-can-do-this-all-by-myself attitude, feel like you can’t ask questions, or assume that you have to know everything. The truth is that in order to get through this thing we call “life,” you will have to ask for help. Whether it be wisdom from your parents, or an advice session with a mentor, a shoulder to lean on can get your through life’s confusing moments.
Friendships take effort to keep
When you and your college buddies go separate ways [after] college often times it’s hard to see each other every day or even talk to each other every day like you used to. In the real world, you may find that you have to make a special effort to keep friendships alive, especially now that you and your close buds have changed area codes in pursuit of new jobs, graduate school, or other opportunities. Being more than five minutes away from your bestie may be strenuous, but that doesn't mean you can't keep in touch. Planning trips to visit each other, Skyping, and having regular phone calls can work wonders to keep a friendship alive. That being said, don't forget to be open to new friendships. No one can replace the people who entertained you during all-nighters, but making new friends can make transitioning into adult life a lot more fun!
It’s okay to change your mind
Your mother may have given you a set checklist on what makes a person successful: the perfect job, a salary that’ll cover all your expenses, great relatioships. What she didn’t tell you was that the path to success is different for everyone and that your path may evolve into something other than what you originally planned. Changing paths is not a sign of failure, but rather, growth. It shows that you understand life is not a straight path and that your interests, goals and dreams may shift. Instead of getting frustrated, accept that you’ve changed (even if it means starting over completely!) and go back to the drawing board to revise your goals.
Know that mistakes don't make you a failure
When we're young, and the decision is wrong, we chalk it up to a learning experience. But as we grow older, graduate college, and venture out into the real world, we still have to make decisions, and when we make the wrong one, it feels like a mistake; a mark in the failure column of being an adult. You’ll make mistakes upon entering the real world but it’s not the end of your world. You haven’t failed miserably if you say the wrong thing in an interview or forget to pick up eggs during your weekly grocery run. Look at your shortcomings as learning experiences and understand that through making mistakes in your job, your relationships, and your life, you will become a wiser person.
Use your downtime to pursue your passions
In college, it was easy to go straight from class to a study session and then to soccer practice or club meeting. Your mom was always encouraging you to be productive, but the last thing you want to do after a long week of work is socialize or work on passion projects. Dreams of owning your own business or writing for your favorite magazine can often to get pushed aside due to exhaustion, or in favor of gaining an income, but that doesn't have to happen. You need to be strategic with your time. Instead of binging on Netflix or Facebook stalking every weekend, use those moments to work towards your dreams.
It’s time to take ownership of your life
When you graduate college, it is helpful to have a plan, but understand that there will be moments where you will not know what to do. Yes, you may feel confused at times, but don’t let that feeling stress you out. Soak in the experience. If your mother didn't mention the importance of you making the most of this time in your life, then know this: you’re only a twentysomething college graduate once, so get every ounce of adventure, knowledge and experience you can from it.
Your mother may have given you a set checklist on what makes a person successful: the perfect job, a salary that’ll cover all your expenses, great relatioships. What she didn’t tell you was that the path to success is different for everyone and that your path may evolve into something other than what you originally planned. Changing paths is not a sign of failure, but rather, growth. It shows that you understand life is not a straight path and that your interests, goals and dreams may shift. Instead of getting frustrated, accept that you’ve changed (even if it means starting over completely!) and go back to the drawing board to revise your goals.
Know that mistakes don't make you a failure
When we're young, and the decision is wrong, we chalk it up to a learning experience. But as we grow older, graduate college, and venture out into the real world, we still have to make decisions, and when we make the wrong one, it feels like a mistake; a mark in the failure column of being an adult. You’ll make mistakes upon entering the real world but it’s not the end of your world. You haven’t failed miserably if you say the wrong thing in an interview or forget to pick up eggs during your weekly grocery run. Look at your shortcomings as learning experiences and understand that through making mistakes in your job, your relationships, and your life, you will become a wiser person.
Use your downtime to pursue your passions
In college, it was easy to go straight from class to a study session and then to soccer practice or club meeting. Your mom was always encouraging you to be productive, but the last thing you want to do after a long week of work is socialize or work on passion projects. Dreams of owning your own business or writing for your favorite magazine can often to get pushed aside due to exhaustion, or in favor of gaining an income, but that doesn't have to happen. You need to be strategic with your time. Instead of binging on Netflix or Facebook stalking every weekend, use those moments to work towards your dreams.
It’s time to take ownership of your life
When you graduate college, it is helpful to have a plan, but understand that there will be moments where you will not know what to do. Yes, you may feel confused at times, but don’t let that feeling stress you out. Soak in the experience. If your mother didn't mention the importance of you making the most of this time in your life, then know this: you’re only a twentysomething college graduate once, so get every ounce of adventure, knowledge and experience you can from it.
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