You just graduated, now what?
- Melody Lai
- Feb 14, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2, 2020
After four years of classes, studying, reading textbooks, club meetings, social events and student loans what's next? Graduate school? Employment? Traveling the world? Writing a novel?
Graduating from college commences a mixture of feelings, everything from the joyous sensation of satisfaction to reflection and contemplation to self-doubt, denial and defeat. The funny thing is, while I was in school, I would often recall complaining about being too busy or too tired, but no one told me about this "post-graduation depression". Having such a major lifestyle change definitely impacts you mentally and emotionally. Things such as not being able to see my friends as often (even if it only means passing each other quickly down the hall), adjusting from 5 hours of classes, studying and exams to 9-10 hours of consecutive work days doing mind-numbing tasks, or desperately seeking a job to help pay the bills and student loans.
As for me, I've been out of employment for approximately two months now. It's been a roller coaster of depression and self-discovery. I'll admit, this is the first time I've been unemployed since the start of my undergraduate studies. But I've been utilizing this time to try new things, catching up on sleep, and rediscovering old hobbies. So far, I've traveled to Japan
applied to graduate school, Netflix-ed the entire season of Friends, How I Met Your Mother and Gossip Girl, chopped off and donated my hair, had lunch with my close girlfriends (that I haven’t spoken to in years), adopted this adorable cat from the Hawaiian Humane Society
and I was lucky enough to pick up some interesting jobs, such as work for TV series Hawaii 5-O. For the first time in my life, I was able to sit down, relax and do things for myself without the constant worries or stress about finances or my future.
For those of you who will be graduating soon or found yourself in a situation similar to mines, here's a list of things I did to preoccupy my time:
Read. Catch up on the latest novels. Since you have all this time to yourself, why not pick up that book you meant to read months ago?
Exercise. I found myself eating healthier and implementing daily exercise routines into my schedule.
Smell the roses and enjoy nature. Whether it's going to the beach, hiking or even going to a botanical garden, it's always nice to restore your inner balance with nature.
Learn a new language. No explanation necessary.
Blogging. Tbh, this is my first time blogging and I find the concept very interesting. I've done some research and did you know you could make a career out of this?
Travel. Nothing helps you discover yourself and teaches you patience like traveling does. Of course, fifteen hour plane rides are not all that great, but the adventure that awaits is definitely worth it.
Learn a new skill. Try something new like cooking or baking. Don't worry, you don't have to be good at it, but it's always rewarding to feel a sense of accomplishment, especially when you do things like nail that soufflé recipe after the third attempt.
Adopt a pet. Adopting a pet is definitely a big responsibility and costly. Do your research before you bring a pet into your home.
Spend more time with loved ones. Sometimes, each day goes by so quickly that we forget to appreciate the little things and people in our lives. Remember to appreciate those that you care about.
Me time. Don't forget to treat yourself! It's great to spend time with family and friends, but sometimes, you might need alone time. I've recently been daring enough to do things like go to the movies and treating myself to a lunch for one. The experience was foreign, but enjoyable. I recommend trying it sometime.
I'm very excited to start this new chapter and eager to see what the future has in store. My advice is: Be patient. Life has a funny way of working itself out.
Check out my blog here: https://marshmelodyy.blogspot.com/2016/03/you-just-graduated-now-what.html
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