I’m Graduating! What now?!
One of the most dreaded things people ask me after it tell them I’m graduating in the spring is: What are you going to do when you graduate? I hate that question! Just ask me what I’m getting my degree in or something. I can speak for everyone but I don’t have an answer. Don’t get me wrong I have ideas and goals. But I haven’t’ secured a job that is just waiting for me to graduate. Do I know exactly what I’ll do with my degree after June 1st? Nope and I feel like that’s ok.
But one thing I can say is that I’m glad I took my classes seriously and actually learned what I could while I was in college and the luxury of financial aid. Many times I would ask to myself- while striving to get an A in my classes, “Does my GPA doesn’t matter? because employers will only look for my degree they aren’t going to ask for a copy on my transcript.”
I was always one to try and make the best of and learn what I could from even the most boring classes. Because even if employers aren’t looking at my grades me having function-able knowledge of things and skills will give me a leg up over other candidates going for that same job.
Another thing I wish I had taken advantage of earlier is doing more networking. Today a lot of the people you meet and the connections you make with them can land you your job after graduation. There are many ways to network. From speaking with alumni to meeting with professors and other people interns you may meet while doing an internship, these are all opportunities to make valuable contacts that you may need in the future.
A bit of advice for Freshman and Sophomores: Declare a minor (or even two like I did) or at least take classes that will supplement your major and give you a skill set that will make you more marketable. You may not know what you want to do as of yet, but that that ok. Pick something you think you like and go with that.
When I first start college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in either. But I knew that I liked writing, so I decided to go with English and then later I changed my major to Journalism, because unlike English journalism allowed more for interaction with people, which I preferred. Later I discovered that I want to work in Public Relations, which is a career that many journalists embark upon.
I am definitely ready to graduate. But I don’t know if I am prepared. There are some things I wish I still had time to do and opportunities I wish I had taken better advantage of but it is never too late. I am trying to enjoy my senior year as best I can because I will never see it again.
Life isn’t going to end if you don’t know what you’re going to do after you graduate. Learn to embrace life as it comes.
By Brittany Wright