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5 Things You Must Do Before You Graduate

There's more to your college years than just passing classes.

Maddi Salmon

Jul 21, 2019

University of Southern California

5 Things You Must Do Before You Graduate

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College can be a great period of your life. It's a time when you get to live independently from your parents and get a taste of adulthood. You have your own (likely shared) living space, you manage your own eating habits, and you make all the decisions about your schedule. You're still not 100% adulting, but you've made a big step towards that. Consequently, it's important that you actively work to develop your life beyond what you've known forever. This is the time to figure out what you want out of life and what you stand by.

\This doesn't have to be anything heavy or serious either. There are just certain things you shouldn't wait to do until you've already graduated. With that in mind, here are five things you must do before you put on that graduation cap.

1. Eat that famous local dish from the restaurant that everyone talks about.

This is probably the easiest one on the list. You know that place that you've heard a million people talk about? The one with hundreds of Yelp reviews? The one you always see featured in a news article here and there? (For Angelenos, that might be The Original Pantry Cafe.) Yeah, you should go ahead and try it. After you graduate, you may move to a totally different city. Don't turn it into a mad dash to check off all the boxes before you move away. Try all the places you want to, now!

2. Research all kinds of jobs and industries beyond those you already know.

You might have a pretty good idea of what you want to do after college, but why stop there? There could be another job you would absolutely love, that you haven't discovered yet. Look at the industries that are growing throughout the U.S. as well as those that are largest in your desired area. You could discover the dream job you never knew you had.

3. Try a new club or hobby.

Hopefully you have some hobbies or activities you already like doing. However, there's always room for more! Colleges often have a bunch of clubs to join. This is a great way to get good at a new skill that you'll use for the rest of your life, as well as an easy way to meet new people. Win-win!

4. Get better at talking to new people.

This goes for introverts and extroverts alike: talking to people is an absolutely necessary life skill! You're going to have to socialize with in-laws, new coworkers, recruiters, friends of friends, bosses, and many more people in the future. You should take every opportunity to practice your skills. At social events, don't just take the easy route of just talking to the one person you know. Push yourself out of your comfort zone -- it'll pay off.

5. Reflect on yourself and work on your shortcomings.

Part of being an adult is understanding that you are not perfect, and it's on you to work on your shortcomings. No one respects someone who refuses to acknowledge their weaknesses and refuses to fix them. Speaking to a counselor or a therapist is a great way to figure out things you seem to serially approach wrong. Therapy is for anyone and everyone. The great thing is, many colleges have such professionals on campus.

Everyone's college experience is different, but these five things are important for anyone. You're an adult now -- embrace it!

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

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Recommended for you

5 Things You Must Do Before You Graduate

There's more to your college years than just passing classes.

1. Eat that famous local dish from the restaurant that everyone talks about.

2. Research all kinds of jobs and industries beyond those you already know.

3. Try a new club or hobby.

4. Get better at talking to new people.

5. Reflect on yourself and work on your shortcomings.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

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