Graduating Can Be Sad But It Definitely Doesn't Have To Be

By Abigail Vinas on April 28, 2016

As we approach the end of April, the subsequent end of the school year is imminent. Prospective freshmen are taking campus tours while the existing student body is eager to finish up the year and embark upon all the summer adventures they have planned. Spring is a time for many different emotions, especially if you’re graduating.

With graduation and commencement just a couple weeks away, it’s easy to become stressed. The anticipation of graduating can be exciting, overwhelming, and terrifying as you begin to imagine what life will be like in the dreaded real world. On the one hand, you are finishing another momentous chapter in your life. After four years of exams and essays and incessant caffeine consumption, you will soon be the proud owner of a college degree, the most expensive piece of paper you will ever possess. The book doesn’t close altogether just yet because another chapter will start shortly after.

On the other hand, graduating means letting go of a four-year routine and suddenly having to put your degree to use, find a job, and earn a living. The pressures of your parents and society urge you to follow the socially-accepted pattern of going to college, graduating, and then swiftly diving into the workforce in order to be successful. People are always moving forward and are keen to find out what your plans are for the future, including your next door neighbor, your mother’s best girlfriend, a Macy’s employee, and practically all the adults in your extended family.

However, most students actually don’t have plans. According to the Los Angeles Times, 4 out of 5 college seniors don’t have jobs lined up after graduation. The job hunt is hard and the constant interrogation is even harder. The infamous question “What are your plans after college?” gets asked countless times and you find yourself responding with a continuous lack of enthusiasm. Answering phone calls from your parents, you already know “So what are you going to do after you graduate?” is going to slip in somewhere in the conversation. Because of all this, it’s natural for someone to think of the end of their undergraduate career as bittersweet.

If you don’t already have them, the anticipation of post-grad jitters can definitely interrupt with the excitement and joy that accompanies graduation. Life after college can be a tough topic to ponder on, especially if you don’t have anything lined up. But always remember that although the future is unknown, you should always remain hopeful. Try not to compare yourself with your peers or think that others are more successful because they have a plan or a job. Be proud of yourself for achieving something so monumental and acknowledge the fact that just because you’re graduating doesn’t instantaneously mean that you should already have your life together.

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