You Graduated, Now What? A look at a year after graduation.
A year ago, on May 22 2016, I walked across the Jenny Craig Pavilion at the University of San Diego and received my diploma in Communication Studies. I went from being a student with 0 worries to a college graduate thrown into the real world. I'm not going to lie, the day of our graduation the Class of 2016 was not exactly thrilled, we were more like terrified, timid, a tad worried…that shocked me in a sense. You work hard all through high school to get into a good university, and then work twice as hard for four years to succeed and graduate, that should be exciting, its an accomplishment, yet we were all scared. Why?
Graduating seems like a freedom booster, a walk into the real world, a welcome into "adulting"…this real world is definitely more intimidating than they had told us. We may be millennials, the new and outspoken generation leaving desk jobs to find our entrepreneurial spirits and wander upon a more liberal path, but that doesn't make us any less humans. We still go through the same fears and worries, we believe in the same concerns and although most people our age can claim no worries of the far off future, we all have them.
A year into graduating, and I'm not exactly sure what's next. This is common. Apparently around the age of 22-23, when most people graduate and start a desk job, they discover they really don't know who they are yet, they feel anxious, worried, not sure if what they decide today will mark the rest of their lives. Last year, a few months before graduation I thought I had my plan all figured out; I was getting the diploma, I had the guy, the interviews were starting for jobs in Europe, the steps were thought of, I was right on track. But looking back maybe that wasn't even the right track all along. We stick to how things should be and fear when something runs off the course.
Though what if there is no set course, what if we are truly meant to just follow our goals and work hard without constantly worrying about how it fits with our long-term plan. It's ok to be afraid of the what now, to not have every step of your life planned out with a complete 401k plan, a set wedding date and a deposit on your future house.
The truth is graduating from college is a huge accomplishment, a step into a different stage of our lives, but it is not the final stage. We have to go through the ups and the downs until we find what fits best. In Disney's metaphorical terms, the glass slipper didn't fit on its first try. That's how life is, as graduates we are worried with being the disappointment to our families, to not fulfilling expectations or even failing on what we had grown up dreaming about. That worry should only serve as motivation to keep trying until you ultimately find what you had been working for all along.
Seeking experiences in the world, wanting to be Someone that’s what being a millennial is all about, and these experiences we seek can be everything from a failed job opportunity to getting a broken heart and even moving half-way across the world to learn about what you want to do in life. The trick that most millennials and people our age have to remember is to above all enjoy every part of this journey of experiences. Whether you are sitting on a 9-5 job and loving it, to being a freelancer that manages every aspect of their schedule. Don't focus on one day being happy and where you will fit, focus on that day being today, on finding what you love to do and not missing out on what experiences and opportunities are offered to you.
Yes, May 22 2016 will be marked as the day the world made adults out of us, and as scary as it was I was more than anything thrilled to see what was next. It was a great day where I felt all sort of emotions, but amongst them I had the biggest smile on my face, I had done it! I was done with college, and like many films our lives are filled with sequels and never-ending adventures. Graduations are celebrations, they are a recognition of an achievement, so don't ever let these feelings of worry cloud an incredible day. This is your day, your accomplishment and the rest will be for another day.
Congratulations Grads, make it your moment!
Outfit details
Top (similar): Banana Republic
Pants: Banana Republic
Dress: Topshop
Shoes: Vince Camuto
Necklace: Swarovski
