Answering The Age Old Question: What Are You Doing After College? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Answering The Age Old Question: What Are You Doing After College?

I have no idea what I'm going to do after college and that's okay

23
Answering The Age Old Question: What Are You Doing After College?
GoGetFunding

As I approach graduation, it seems that every time I attend a function, or visit with a family friend, or leave my house, the world is waiting to ask: what are you doing after college? To which I politely answer because I don't want to be rude. Even if I've already answered it a hundred times before and my answer still hasn't changed. But such is the life for a newly made adult.

The truth? I have no idea what I'm going to do after college. And that's a totally acceptable answer.

I really hate that question "what are you going to do after college?" because I'm still in college. I haven't graduated yet. There's still a chance - albeit small because I'm the kind of student that loves making the Dean's List - that I might not even graduate on time. Which would be really unfortunate because I've been in college for five years already, but still, that would be okay! Right now, though, my only priority is to make it to graduation and get my diploma. I haven't thought about after college because I'm still doing college. I don't want to answer what's after, I just want to make it to the finish line, catch my breath and then stare at a wall for a little while.

I've spent the last 18.5 years going to school. Always knowing what was coming next, always knowing where my life was going. I ran on auto-pilot because I didn't need to think about the future. But for the first time in my life, I have no schedule. I have no immediate plans for my life. And I'm going to enjoy that for a little while because I've earned a few seconds of downtime.

I know that when I'm asked by my friends and families about the future, they want to know so they can support my endeavors. Which I appreciate greatly because there's nothing better than knowing you've got people in your corner. But it also puts a lot of pressure on me and makes me feel like I'm not as together as I should be.

I'm not the kind of person that had her entire future planned at 6 years old because I'm not even sure what tomorrow will bring. I have an idea of where I would like to go in the coming years, but I have to finish the task at hand before I can move my thought process forward. In my collegiate career, I changed my major three times before settling on my current program so you think I know the answer to what I'm doing after college? I can't even pick a place to eat most days.

I think a better question to ask this new generation of college graduates is: what would you like to do with your future? There's no added pressure of needing an exact answer of where we're going or what we'll be doing. But the people that are interested will have an idea of what's to come for us (almost) college graduates.

So Erica, what would you like to do with your future? Find what makes me feel alive and let it consume me. And to never ever have to answer that question again.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

2850
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

449346
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21597
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44609
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments