You Just Graduated College…Now What?
13 Lessons to Help You Make the Most of Your Next Chapter by Maria Marchewka
Right now, you might feel like Will Smith in an empty living room and Mr. Feeny in an empty classroom.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, (excuse me while I let a dramatic tear trickle down my cheek because I feel old) those are the final scenes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Boy Meets World.
As a new college graduate, you might feel those same feelings of finality that viewers felt when those TV series came to an end.
Somehow four years of your life are now a memory.
You went from college student to alumna/alumnus when you moved your tassel from the right side of your cap to the left.
One simple movement marked the end of your college era (Taylor Swift reference because I’m not that old) and the beginning of another.
You’re feeling a mix of emotions – happiness, sadness, excitement, fear, uncertainty, confidence.
Rightfully so. You’re about to start the rest of your life!
It sounds melodramatic, and honestly, it felt that way typing it, but this is your chance to dive headfirst into life beyond college.
And, to add some extra spring to the diving board, here are 13 lessons I learned from being in your shoes a decade ago.
Here it goes…
You don't have to know everything (and you shouldn’t act like you do).
Nobody expects you to know everything when you’re fresh out of college. If you act like you do, well, you’ll miss out on learning opportunities and it might come off as disingenuous to some.
Always leverage humility to admit when you don’t know something and be smart enough to do your own research before asking a question.
Sometimes the answer to your question is a Google search away.
Take your time and then ask, listen closely, and keep your eyes open to see what people are doing.
Knowledge is a superpower.
Accept failure and learn from it.
Ugh, the f-word – Failure.
To some, it’s like a scarlet letter, to others, it’s a badge of honor.
How you handle failure will either stunt your growth or accelerate it.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’ll fail. We all do. Even professionals with decades of experience still fall on their faces.
But, it's how you handle those failures that ultimately determine your future success.
No’s aren’t dead-ends.
Two simple letters carry so much weight.
It can be hard to say “no” and hear “no.”
Growth takes place beyond your comfort zone, so don’t let a “no” stop you in your tracks.
Collect yourself and view it as a detour on your journey.
Give your best effort.
I love the quote, "You need to work hard to be 'lucky.'"
It’s true.
The more effort you put in, the luckier you become. That’s because you’ll put yourself in situations that welcome opportunities. That helps you move up and grow personally and professionally.
Don’t compare.
These days, it’s so easy to get swept away in the sea of comparison.
If someone’s not jet-setting to the Italian coast, another person’s celebrating their dream job.
If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself in a negative headspace that’s fueled by envy.
Social media is a highlight reel of people’s lives. Focus on yours and watch it blossom.
Enjoy the work.
I sincerely hope you find a career that supports your passions and brings joy to your life! That’s the ultimate goal.
But to get there, you might have to temper your expectations in a way and realize your career and life can be hard – not impossible.
I encourage you to never settle for an unfulfilled life.
Don't give up when the going gets tough, but don't stick around in a toxic work environment because you think you have to.
Listen to your gut and follow your intuition.
Don’t gossip.
Some workplaces can have you feeling like you’re back in high school.
Did you hear what he said in that meeting? Did you see what she shared on Slack?
It's like all the gossip from our teenage years got a really bad TV spinoff.
Distance yourself from office drama.
As Rhonda Byrne said, "Gossip is not harmful to the person who is being spoken of; gossip harms those gossiping."
Ditch your comfort zone.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think in the history of mankind has anyone said, “I love being rejected!” with sincerity.
Rejection sucks. There’s no way to sugarcoat it.
Rejection makes us feel like tiny, helpless turtles retreating into our shells.
But, there's a quote from Heather Monahan that I absolutely love..."Rejected is actually being redirected."
Adjust your perspective to view rejection as a redirection so you can see these surface-level failures as stepping stones to growth.
You’re enrolled in the School of Life.
Your days in a physical classroom are done, but don’t be fooled, school’s always in session.
Every day brings with it new opportunities for you to learn and grow.
Become a sponge and soak up everything and anything you can.
Sit in on meetings. Go to networking events. Accept lunch dates with colleagues. Enroll in online courses.
Soak it all in. You’ll be better because of it.
Invest in your future.
Don’t buy a luxury vehicle to flex on social. Use that money and put it into your retirement fund.
Seriously, invest money in your retirement.
The future you will be happy present you did it.
We’re all imposters.
Let it be known everyone on this planet has dealt with imposter syndrome.
Even Sara Blakely, a BILLIONAIRE and the founder of Spanx still struggles with self-doubt and questions her abilities from time to time.
Rather than give in, she combats those feelings by acknowledging when it’s happening and adjusting her thoughts accordingly.
We’re all human and struggle with self-doubt.
Instead of letting them run our lives and play a negative role in how we approach situations, we need to recognize and replace those thoughts with confidence and courage.
Don’t give up.
So what, you didn’t land your dream job after graduation?
Honestly, the vast majority of people don’t and that’s totally fine.
You have a long road ahead of you.
Stay focused and be open to opportunities that align with your goals.
You’ll get there eventually – believe it.
Enjoy the process.
I have a decade of experience under my belt.
And, by taking stock of my career to date, I noticed I spent A LOT of time hating what I was doing.
You know what I did to change it?
Nothing.
I complained.
I gave my negative self-talk a microphone and cranked up the volume.
I invited people to my pity party and everyone showed up!
You see this happen a lot.
People are unhappy with their careers yet they do nothing but talk about it.
If you’re not thrilled with where you are, and you count down the milliseconds until Friday at 5 p.m., that’s your signal to make a change.
Life is what we make of it. Make yours something you love waking up to.
So, though your college days are behind you, exciting things are ahead of you and I wish you nothing but the best!
In the words of Mr. Feeny, class dismissed.
This blog post was written by guest writer Maria Marchewka, Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at Newswire, Copywriter, and Mom of two.
