POST-GRAD LIFE: 5 TIPS FOR A BUDDING COLLEGE GRADUATE

Originally Posted on Not One of Yo Lil Friends: https://notoneofyolilfriends.home.blog/2018/12/31/5-tips-for-a-budding-college-graduate/

December 31, 2018:

By Jaya Montague

Christmas break is over and your aunt, with her name-plated bamboo earrings, sits you at the table and asks what your plans are. You’re back at the library and spill your falafel on your pants. You go between writing a paper and filling out a job application.

It’s the start of the second semester of being a senior.

Others got through but college changes. The advice ain’t fitting everyone. If you’re a first-gen like me, it feels harder. Last year, I didn’t know what would happen once I left. I don‘t now.

As I’m still in the post-grad life (graduated 7 months from May), I want to give *REALISTIC* tips on trying to cope.

1. Save Emergency Money (if at all)

Something that helped (is helping) me was saving any check I earned. If you’re like me, you might not pick up a job soon after college. A little helps while red-eyeing LinkedIn. I worked all four years and started earlier than my senior term, but is still possible to save. It’s not ideal but if you draw up any loan refund checks, use that (but only accept what you need).

2. Not Graduating on Time is Okay

As a former STEM girl, my first year sucked. Transferred to another school and switched my major as a junior. I spent more cash than I needed to on summer courses EVERY semester and wished that I didn’t do that (more again). Ended up graduating with everybody but after the work, I accepted graduating later. Everyone can’t get through in 4 years and it’s okay. Your degree is the same in May and in December.

3. Network, Network… please network

When I’m in my journalist mindset, I can’t be shy. Applying for jobs earlier in the year is great, but networking (as I’m still trying to consider myself) makes things easier. If you have an internship, even if you talk with one person, make sure they remember you. Professors are good practice people to learn how to network.

4. Figure Out Whose on the Grad VIP List Early

If you can finesse bringing in the family to your graduation than the allotted tickets, do you. Some schools don’t care. Some keep security at the door. To stop any arguments before you walk, total out who you want. I had to tell cousins, aunts/uncles, and associates I didn’t have enough and they understood. But if you REALLY need more, I would suggest going to your school’s office during the week of convocation and see.

5. Friendships are Harder to keep in Adulthood… but possible

In high school, one of my teachers talked to my class about how hard it was to make friends as an adult. You‘re not forced in the same place as your friends anymore. I didn’t get it then, but then I left high school and I stopped talking to most. Losing besties to time and differences don’t stop in college either. Once graduation hits, everyone goes back home and/or start jobs or grad school. If you want to maintain your friendships, communication is important. All of you have to take the time to contact each other even if you‘re far away.

I hope that some of these helped and we‘re all trying to adult better.