I'm Graduating And I Still Don't Know What I Want To Do | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

I'm Graduating And I Still Don't Know What I Want To Do

I guess we all can’t walk into a 6 figure salary, right?

4725
I'm Graduating And I Still Don't Know What I Want To Do
Jessica Davis

I envy those who knew what they were destined to be ever since they exited their mother’s womb. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to be a marine biologist for the entirety of my childhood until I entered high school and nearly failed every science class I had to take (I still don’t know what cellular respiration is). But if everyone did exactly what they said they were gonna do when they were children the world would be a much different place, amirite? For some of us, that moment of eureka doesn’t happen until you’re 25, 30, even 50 years old, whereas others are going viral for dunking basketballs at the age of 3. The real struggle is finding what it is that you excel at. The pursuit of happiness in this miserable world involves finding that one niche that makes you happy AND pays the bills (more or less, professional cup blowing doesn’t count). For many people, including myself, college is that pursuit. Four years of taking different classes in every field possible trying to hone in on your calling with the nightmare of never being able to figure your sh*t out. Well, guess what. That nightmare is possible…. And it’s happening to me.

I’m about to graduate from my University, and I still don’t know what the hell I want to do with my life. Although I did enjoy my major and did well in my studies it still doesn’t give me that sense of passion that I am looking for. So here I am; 23, jobless, buried up to my neck in student debt. And you know what? It’s okay.

It’s okay that I am more than just my GPA. It’s okay that I am part of that percentile that didn’t walk straight into a job after college, and it’s okay that I am not making a six figure income at the age of 23. You know why? Because now is the time to find myself. To take this newly acquired free time and put it to something other than scrolling through my Facebook feed on the couch for days on end without blinking - feeling sorry for myself for not having a job like all of my friends (most of them hate their jobs anyway). Because it is still an accomplishment to finish college that thousands of Americans can’t say they ever did, and because there is nothing wrong with dropping everything and spending every dime you have on a trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights, even if there's only a 50/50 chance of clear skies. Because life is about taking leaps, and they come in many lengths. It’s easy for us to recognize all the times we fall, but it is also easy for us to forget about all the times that we landed on our feet.

So take my lead; get off the couch, and go outside. Sign up for a class - cooking, pottery, yoga, literally ANYTHING that interests you. Travel across the neighborhood or travel across the world. Talk to people when doing your day to day instead of putting your head down and avoiding eye contact. Take the time to do something that is outside of your comfort zone and maybe you’ll come across something that you’re damn good at, and something that will give you that moment of “omg maybe I can make money doing this”. Because there is more to life than just having a college degree and even though I still have no f*cking clue what I want to do with my life, at least I know that I have a whole life of adventure ahead of me to figure it out.

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

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2126
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1285
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200508
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
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

21077
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

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments