It's okay to have no clue what to do after graduation | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

It's Okay To Not Know What's Next

As graduation is rapidly approaching, more and more of my friends are scrambling to figure out where they should be and what they should be doing. But it's totally okay to have no idea what's next.

47
It's Okay To Not Know What's Next

Here it comes: Graduation. This day brings so many people so much joy. Finally free of school! No more late nights in the library, no more 8 a.m. classes, no more finals, no more term papers. Finally free! But, amidst all this joy and relief, you realize that the end of college means the beginning of something else, the rest of your life.

People in college fall on a spectrum all the way from those who (like me) have known what they want to do since a very young age to those who have literally no idea all the way up through the second they get their diploma. This is totally normal. Figuring out what career you want to stick with for the rest of your life is a terrifying prospect. Even within my own certainty, I changed my majors and minor at least four times before settling in where I am. Even then, I took so many outside classes that I was interested in, I ended up with an accidental double major. There are still days where I wake up and question if college was even the right choice for me if I should have chosen a completely different career path.

Graduating brings a whole new level to this uncertainty. It feels like all of my friends have jobs lined up, have graduate school, have a year off, a fellowship. The small group who have no clue what's next feel alone and overwhelmed. There is both a world of options and nothing to be found when it comes to the job market and graduate school.

Some people do have their minds made up because it is a path they decide to follow. People who want to be doctors got to medical school lawyers go to law school, accountants get a masters and (sometimes) a CPA, religious leaders go through their own training, etc.

But, people who do not know where they want to be, what they want to do can find this time to be nerve-wracking. It's totally fine to not know. One of my best friends, one of the happiest people I know, had no clue what he wanted. He actually took time off college and worked jobs he did not like to pay the bills. After years and after so much trial and error, he found his passion and is starting his own record label.

Life is about figuring things out. Ask some people and they'll tell you what society has ingrained in their heads: you have to know what you want to be starting in high school, get as much experience as possible, and devote the rest of your life to working. But I do not believe this is a way to live. Yes, you will be able to find a job and make money in the respective field you decide to follow from that young age. But, I think we were put on this planet to do more than grow up, work, pay bills, and die. Don't you?

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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190126
 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

14842
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...

457815
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.

26601
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

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments