Anyone who has made it to the finish line has heard this question way too many times. What are you gonna do after graduation? Well, I wanna pass my finals first to make sure it's still a go. After that, I’m going to get my outfit together, decorate my cap, get extra tickets for my family, make a hair appointment, and get my nails done. But after graduation… I’m not sure yet. How am I supposed to know?
I understand it's a general question, but it's not an easy one to answer. People don’t just graduate one weekend and start their career following business day. That would be ideal. But does that happen for everyone? Nope.
When I was in college, I always imagined that I would start my career right away. I’m a hard worker, so I figured employers would be blowing my phone up. It got to the point where I dreaded talking to people about my plans because I knew what they were going to ask. I didn’t know how to respond. Nothing was certain other than the fact that I was moving back home.
My point is, we all have ideas for what we want. Sometimes those ideas are replaced with reality. There’s nothing wrong with asking someone about their next move. I let people tell me instead of asking because I’ve been there.
Also, it’s not always what you say, it’s how you say it. There’s a big difference in, "Congrats! What's the next step?" and "What did you get your degree in? Oh. So what exactly do you think you’re going to be able to do with that?" Pause for a second and read them both out loud. See what I mean?
To all of the students working hard and preparing to walk the stage, I wish you nothing but the best! If I see you out in public, you don’t have to worry about me being one more person asking you what you’re going to do after graduation. Just continue to work hard, have faith, and everything will work out! And if you ever need any advice on getting through it, I got you.
