Why I'm Not Ready to Leave College and Enter the Real World | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why I'm Not Ready to Leave College and Enter the Real World

151
Why I'm Not Ready to Leave College and Enter the Real World
Sarah K. Miller

For the past three years, college for me has been a haven. I have been blessed with being able to focus on my studies and not hold a part-time job during the full school year. However I do have a seasonal job, internships through the school year, and positions in extracurricular clubs. Even though I have felt that college has benefitted me immensely, I still do not feel ready to join the “real world” just yet. With one year left, the clock is literally counting down the time I have until I graduate. Each passing minute is a reminder to stay focused and work harder than ever. Why does the end seem so daunting now?

For starters, college degrees do not come with a career guarantee, but this does not scare me. As an English major, I know I have my work cut out for me to find a career, and I have accepted that. I look forward to that challenge, because I am ready to stop working part-time and find somewhere I would enjoy working for years to come. Doing adult things such as scheduling my own doctor’s appointments and remembering to get my oil changed in my car is not what scares me, either. The main reason I am not ready to face the real world is because I do not know what will be required of me from this point forward.

Once I have that degree in my hand, there is no more structure of semesters of classes, no one handing me grades to help determine my effectiveness at certain skills, and no more excuses for not submitting work on time. Careers demand individual thinking, progressive attitudes, and marketability. There is no grading scale; employers see information that leads to a pass or fail, with your job on the line. There is no more redo options for the most part. With that degree comes a signal that you have been educated enough to fend for yourself and contribute to society.

I am not ready to graduate college and face the real world because I do not know the kind of person that this world needs me to be. For all of my life, I have been taught curriculums and facts; I am a person created to be the best benefit for society that I can be. But how do I know that I will be effective in any given career or city? With the modern world fluidly advancing in technology and structure, I feel ill-prepared to determine a path for myself. I have been given the tools and given all the instructions, but utilizing them is an entirely different matter.

Nevertheless, I must trust that this system of education has prepared billions of students before me, and I will be prepared when my time comes to be the college graduate ready to take on the world. I am confident that college has benefitted me and prepared me effectively, or it would not be so vital on a resume. Once I cross that stage with my diploma in hand, I hope to know that I possess all that is necessary to be the best adult in the real world that I can be.

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.

179176
 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

6344
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...

451873
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.

22952
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