It's the second semester of your senior year. Graduation is rapidly approaching, and so are job application deadlines. The possibilities of where you could go, what you could do, and who you could meet are endless: so endless that it almost feels like there aren't any. You are not alone if you are feeling this way; I feel overwhelmed and nervous about what the future holds every single day, and I am sure every college graduate could relate to the feelings us college seniors are having right now.
Applying to jobs and thinking about life after college is very important. These are some of the most monumental moments of our lives, and these next few years are going to shape how the rest of our lives will be. Wherever we end up getting a job could be where we end up settling down and spending the rest of our lives. But no pressure or anything, right?!
Right. The looming presence of job applications saved on our LinkedIn and Indeed profiles can get very overwhelming, but it is important for us to remember that so many people have been exactly where we are right now and are now wildly successful. Stressing out over every little thing you have to do will not get anything done.
I have found one of the best ways to calm myself down in these times is to make a list. Make 10 lists. Make 30 lists. As many lists as you need to feel like you have your life in order, do that. Crossing things off that list feels like a little weight is lifted off your chest, and when the entire list is finished you will feel so much more in control. Even if it's just for a short period of time, that feeling of organization is necessary and extremely rewarding.
I also feel that it is important to say that it is perfectly normal and more than okay if you don't know what you want to do yet. Moving back home after college should not be frowned upon in any way. Sometimes baby steps are the best steps to take when it comes to figuring out the rest of your life. Do not feel ashamed about whatever path you are deciding to take at this time in your life, whatever you think is best for you is what should be done.
While it is definitely easier said than done, the most important thing us college seniors can do right now is taking a deep breath and know that we are ready for this. We have just gone through four years of higher education, studying exactly what we wanted to and doing everything we had to do to get us to this very moment. Breathe it in. What is meant to happen will happen, and all we can do is try our best until it does.
