There is Life After College. What Should Students Know?

So, you’ve come off the graduation stage with an empty folder in your hand (don’t worry, the diploma is coming in the mail). So, what’s next? Here are six things you should know about post-college life:

The Hard Work is Only Just Beginning

College is an arduous period of focused work, but that doesn’t mean it’s the apex of difficulty. Sure, you won’t be staying up to 3 AM studying for finals or anything, but you are going to have to increase your hustle to get coveted jobs that can comfortably pay rent.

You’re Not Going to Land Your Dream Job Right Off the Bat

This seems obvious, but you aren’t going to be graduating with a six-figure paying job. You may get their eventually, but that is going to take a lot of work (unpaid, potentially). This period before you find that high paying job is all about meeting people and getting your name out there so you will be considered for those jobs.

You’re Classmates Maybe More Successful Than You After Graduation. It’s Okay

Success is all about who you know. If you’re less socially apt (or less lucky) than some of your classmates, your journey may take longer than theirs. Rather than being dispirited by this, you should use it as motivation. These former classmates can also serve as a resource to learn how to break into the industry.

Your First Job Might Not Have to Do with Your Major

Many jobs require you to have experience in your given career before you can secure them. So, while you track down opportunities in your career, you are going to have to do some grunt work. Don’t fret. This is just the calm before the storm.

Student Loan Repayment is on the Horizon

College doesn’t evaporate from your life as soon as you retrieve your diploma. The mountain of debt you’ve no doubt accrued will rear its ugly head soon. Rather than worry, you should be planning for your eventual repayment. Solidify a well-paying job and craft a plan for your repayment, so you’re ready when it comes.

Nobody is Going to Hand You Anything

The sad fact is your diploma isn’t going to open any doors for you. You are going to have to use it to open the door a smidge, then break down the door with your own hard work. Moving forward, your life isn’t going to play with the same ease as it has. People are going to stop helping you, and you are going to have to pave your own path.

It’s Important to Preserve Your Relationships with College

The worst thing you can do as you move away from college is to forget the people that helped you get through it. You’re entering a tumultuous period where a support system is of paramount importance. You’ll all be going through the same tribulations so keeping in touch and lending each other a hand goes a long way to making this period more tolerable.

The Sky Isn’t Falling. Remember to Enjoy Your Life

The transition between college and the real world presents a tectonic shift in your life. But, don’t let the pressure convince you that life is meant to be struggling through. Life is meant to be enjoyed. So, continue to enjoy. Indulge in your habits. Go out with friends. Get the most out of your finite time on this planet.