Post Graduate Life
Post-Graduation Emotions: Embracing the Unknown Opportunities Ahead
““Whew, I am finally done! All those sleepless nights to get my assignments done before their deadline or the frustrations between my parents and me to get my assignments done is finally OVER!””
Graduation: Balancing Fresh Joys and New Anxieties
Graduating from school can feel relieving to some, but it can also produce a significant level of anxiety about what the future may hold. Life after graduation shifts into a life that turns from dreaming and aspiring to putting in action to obtain those foreseen goals. Many students have high expectations for high-paying careers, especially after college, and some graduates are reaching a milestone not previously received in their families. Once the graduation celebration phase fades away, there will be many "what are your next plans." which is an innocent question. However, most of the time, many graduates can only process the significant milestone they have been working towards for years, which is finally done. In a way, the school was a way for some students to buy time to figure out what they wanted to do, and for so long, school systems provided a structure of riskless comfort and routine for many students. Most recent graduates do not realize that this next chapter in their lives causes so much uncertainty, and in navigating through uncertainty, it is vital to understand that everyone's journey may not look the same. Still, if one stays the course within one's destiny, it will be rewarding. Those trials of the unknowing will all make sense when one arrives at their destiny.
EASIER SAID THAN DONE, HUH?
a real-life experience of post-graduation life:
My postgraduate experience is ongoing; however, when I first graduated, I did not think I would experience postgraduate "blues" because I considered myself having a flexible dual life during school. I took all online classes. I did not have to be at school, but I stayed at my off-campus apartment to live somewhat independently ( I had roommates), working constantly and going back and forth home when I chose. I was going on more frequent trips even though I did not have as much money as I had after graduating. I felt like I was already living the "real world" life but with benefits. However, it hit me differently when I returned home for good and was out of school. I had to adjust back to living back home (full-time) while coming to terms with things I may have suppressed before leaving home in the first place.
Luckily, the pandemic panned out because when I came home, I was unemployed and did not have to figure out where I had to work right away. I got a chance to spend time with the people I needed to at the time and was able to rest, breathe, and think at my leisure, which was much required to decipher my next steps. This provided a rare opportunity to pause, which most people never get.
Beware: Here Comes the Unsolicited Advice!
The main thing that frustrated me during this time was that many people around me felt the need to dictate my time. They also felt it was imperative to share what they thought was best for me to do then; the intentions were probably in the right place, and I am open to seeking guidance; however, I did not ask. Even worse, people would judge your motivation based on what they think you should be doing, which infuriated me. I am constantly discovering and understanding myself daily, and the same goes for discovering what career path will best suit me. The career path I chose initially at 18 years old self was not the same path I wanted to take in a career at 22, and the blur of the unknown gave me anxiety. Fortunately, through the grieving process and unfolding layers of spiritual awakening during this time, graduating amid a global pandemic, I rediscovered my true passions and saw my promised future from God. From there, I knew my destination, but the steps I needed to take to get there are still, to this day, filled with uncertainty. I have learned to embrace the process, knowing that if I obey God and try to make aligned decisions, I will reach my destiny-purpose and career path and impact the world moving forward when the time is right.
Taking Life Day-by-Day is an Essential life skill
Many like to focus solely on the future and forget to live in the present. Living in the present will allow you to appreciate the small wins and not waste a lifetime longing for tomorrow, which is not always promised. Nonetheless, continue to set goals and pray/ ask for guidance to get to where you need to be for your life's purpose, and with patience, it will come.
