You Graduated! Now What? By, Alyssa Calderon

You Graduated! Now What? By, Alyssa Calderon 

Most students look forward to seeing their academic career come to an end. You work hard, lose hours of sleep, create lasting memories, and while crossing the finish line is exciting, it can also feel overwhelming. Now more than ever, graduates are bombarded with questions from peers and family members about their career plans after graduation. These questions and expectations can bring about feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, and other conflicting emotions.

When faced with tough decisions like moving, employment, or finances, we may feel compelled to avoid social gatherings. Some time alone can help you regroup and reflect, but be sure not to isolate yourself for too long. This is a time where many of your peers may be facing similar transitions. Creating a community with friends in mirroring positions can help normalize your experience, and provide you, and them, with a sense of support.

Social media is another outlet that can dampen your post-graduate experience. Being flooded with pictures and posts about others’ success can encourage comparison and possibly create more pressure to meet someone else’s standards. Fortunately, there are some activities you can incorporate into your life now, that can shift the attention back to you and your needs.

• Exercise! Moving your body is always a great way to connect with yourself and improve your mood.
• Practice mindfulness or yoga. Even a simple breathing exercise can help keep you in the present when everyone is pushing you towards the future.
• Take up a hobby! If you have just finished years of schooling, it might be useful to tap into interests you did not have time for before.
• Journaling is a great way to process your thoughts and emotions during this time.
• Plan productivity! You do not have to spend every waking moment job searching. Designating specific days and time frames to work can help you be proactive and feel accomplished.

Post-graduation emotions can be overpowering, but that does not have to be the entirety of your experience. Practicing some of the activities above, or discussing these challenges with a licensed therapist, can help you feel more grounded and ease you into navigating this new chapter in life.