A new chapter begins.
It is that time of the year when social media is buzzing with photos of graduation hats, flashing diplomas, proud parents, convocation halls, university campuses and goodbye’s to a big phase of the student life. It’s graduation time!
Although the thrill of the accomplishments is the talk of the day, many students are nervous about setting foot into the adult life. It is pretty normal to feel a mix of emotions and I believe many students go through the entire process of planning life after graduation. Some wish to launch their career while others go for vacations and take time off to travel. Relocation and continuing studies are some other items on the menu. There is no right or wrong direction to take. It is more about what you want from life and how will you transition to your ultimate goal.
Generations have been through this phase and everyone has diverse experiences to talk about. There is not much to generalize, however there are some things that you need to bear in mind. The article, “Twenty Lessons For The Recently Graduated”, published in the Communication Activist provides valuable advice. Here are some other words of advice.
1) Breathe! You will be fine. No matter what you are facing; the student loan, the tough job market, the expenses, you will work your way through it. Strategize and see what works best for you given your current situation.
2) Be an active participant in the community. The more people you know the better are your chances of finding opportunities, be it work or just volunteer jobs that satisfy your soul. You never know how your network could connect you to a potential job that has not been advertised.
3) Spend your savings wisely. Do not plan a vacation unless you have the money to do so. Getting peer pressured to spend money of grad trips may not work best in your case. Unless you win a lottery or save from your salary don’t make a reckless decision.
4) People are a great source of advice. Talk to your parents, professors and peers. They are a great resource for advice and you may end up gathering information that will give you a direction.
5) Find what you love. It is very important to discover what you are passionate about. Talk to people in your ideal profession, job shadow, go for informational interviews etc. All of these are some ways to know how your future career will look like.
6) Have faith in yourself. Things may not work right away and it might make you doubt your capabilities. Don’t overthink! Focus and be consistent. Nothing can defeat you.
7) Be optimistic! Roosevelt rightly said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”. Embrace that thought. Dream big and put in all your hardwork to make it your reality.
Areej Shah is the Marketing Coordinator at Grade Learning. She shares her passion for communication and writing through informative social media posts and blogs. She is a strong advocate of freedom of expression and often likes to inspire people through words such that they make small differences to the ever-evolving social setup.
