Picture this: it\u2019s 6 am, that blaring alarm beep goes off for the last time. Today is graduation day. After a long 13 years years you\u2019re finally done. Except you\u2019re not. Now you have four years in college to look forward to. Look forward to? What\u2019s there to look forward to? It just seems like another four years of sitting in a classroom, taking notes and doing homework.
So, you start college and enjoy it, you meet a lot of new people, learn a lot of new things and time flies. You learn to love it and learn that it is more than just homework and notes. Now, you have three weeks left. Whats next? 17 years spent in school to get a piece of paper. In reality it is not just a piece of paper. This paper opens door after door for you. It is a symbol of all of the long hours and hard work you\u2019ve put in. You are now able to say \u201cI did it.\u201d
What are you supposed to do when you\u2019re done? Do you need to jump right into a career? Travel? Take a break? There is no right answer, do whatever you feel you need to do. There is no set timeline as to where you\u2019re \u201csupposed\u201d to be. Graduation can be so rewarding but yet so stressful. I reached out to some former college graduates for some advice to help with the stress and this is what they said:
\u201cThings will happen at their own pace. The opportunities meant for you wont pass you! And if an opportunity comes up you don\u2019t feel ready for, that opportunity wouldn\u2019t be in front of you if you weren\u2019t ready,\u201d said Tiana Lang.
\u201cIn my experience even though you feel like you don\u2019t know what you are doing, when the time comes to need to know it, it will all come to you,\u201d said Hayley Taylor.
\u201cYou won\u2019t ever know the outcome unless you try. Always go for what you feel you deserve. The worst someone could say is no. All it takes is one yes,\u201d said Angelica Mantey.
\u201cDon\u2019t stay stuck at a job you end up hating just because at one point you thought it was your dream job. If you don\u2019t like it, you don\u2019t have to do it anymore. Your dream job may change more than once an that\u2019s okay. And don\u2019t ever take advice from someone who benefits from you staying where you are if you\u2019re unhappy,\u201d said Ashley Akin.
\u201cThe very thing they\u2019re putting you down for, is the very thing you should be doing,\u201d said Lacey Oltman.
\u201cGet out of your comfort zone and do things that scare you. Most often the scary steps are the best ones to take. Apple for all of the jobs – even if you\u2019re under qualified, even if its something you\u2019ve never done before. If you\u2019re interested in it just apply because I promise you there\u2019s ten other people that aren\u2019t qualified either who are applying. Your personality might just outshine the rest and every job is trainable. Being friendly and like-able is key. Market yourself wisely. Carry yourself well and are new friends everywhere you go. Connections will get you further in life than education, experience, or skill ever will,\u201d said Taylor Hall.
\tSo with all of this I say put yourself out there and don\u2019t be afraid of making mistakes. Life will look different but then you will find where you\u2019re comfortable. Keep pushing, you\u2019re almost there!
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Picture this: it\u2019s 6 am, that blaring alarm beep goes off for the last time. Today is graduation day. After a long 13 years years you\u2019re finally done. Except you\u2019re not. Now you have four years in college to look … Continue reading