What Is Life After Penn State? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

What Is Life After Penn State?

Post-graduation does not have to be a difficult or sad one.

75
What Is Life After Penn State?
pexels.com

Now that the semester is officially over and graduation season has come to a close, recent graduates might feel anxiety and panic seeping through their veins. I know I am.

There’s no easy way to put it — life after graduation is going to be tough, and it’s going to be brutal. Your days of chalking up excuses are over, and you will be held accountable for every mistake because congratulations, you just entered the cut-throat world of adulthood. Cue the soundtrack to practically every horror movie ever made.

If you were one of the unlucky ones that didn’t secure a job before graduation, don’t panic just yet. You still have the summer to get your sh*t together and six months before you have to start paying back those loans. This means you can be stress-free from bills until Thanksgiving when the smell of roasted turkey and baked mac and cheese hits you like a train, and you’re crying from the unbearable questions of “did you get a job?” or “what are you doing now?” from family members you don’t even want to see.

But trust me, you’ll be fine as long as you get your sh*t together before then. And trust me, you will because everything will work out, hopefully.

If you didn’t take advantage of the numerous resumé workshops during college or the Career Center services, take advantage of it now! Your student ID still works until August, so head over to the Career Center and have them look over your resumé.

This brings me to my next point... polish those resumes! Add every club, community service, or university-related activity on it. This shows you were active on campus and have a hard-working character, especially if your GPA isn’t the greatest.

Also, you’ll still have your Penn State email and library privileges for six months after graduation. So if you’re planning on going to grad school, take advantage of the online library database! Do your research.

Although you won’t be a student anymore and probably won’t be getting any emails from angry professors reminding you that you bombed the last test, still check it! Your college is probably going to be sending out different job postings throughout the summer and fall seasons, so apply to every possible job! Even if it doesn’t sound like something you want to be doing, it might relate to your field and help you get your foot in the door.

Don’t forget to network, while you’re at it. Find any conventions, gatherings, and functions related to your field and make an effort to attend and introduce yourself. You might not be getting job offers because your resumé or cover story is getting lost in a sea of others. However, if you’re able to put a face to a resumé and make it personal, you’re more ahead of the game than everybody else.

Another recommendation I have is to stay connected to Penn State. One of the greatest things about attending Penn State is the large network that it has, which really helps when you’re job hunting. If your interviewer happens to be a Penn Stater, you just instantly found a connection with them that can potentially play in your favor when they decide who to choose for the job. Another great way to stay connected with Penn State is probably through their alumni program.

Also, stay in contact with your professors and advisors! Many students tend to think that once a class is over, they never want to see their professor again. This is a BAD move.

First, professors can offer you advice about job hunting and the adulting world. Second, they can write you a bomba** recommendation letter if you ever decide to go to grad school. And lastly, they probably worked really hard to teach the material so just be appreciative of that (unless they were really bad at teaching).

Lastly, just remember that everything will eventually work out. Life after graduation doesn’t have to be a difficult and sad one. The fact that you have a degree in something already puts you miles ahead of many people. But in the 0.0000000000000001 percent off-chance it doesn’t work out, a box of 75-count Kleenex cost $2.29 at Walmart, but remember to ration because you probably won’t be able to afford it once November rolls around.

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?

226
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

108
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.

198895
 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

20086
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