Graduation season is nigh! Perhaps, you’re faced with the big question: "What's next?"

If you’re a soon-to-be graduate, it’s easy to get caught up in the stress and uncertainty that’s normal during this transitional period of your life.

I can vividly remember my own state of mind when I was about to finish my undergraduate studies.

“I have no clue what I want to do.”

“Should I apply to that job? I don’t think I’m qualified.”

“What even is a retirement plan?”

“I don’t want to move back in with my parents!”

It’s a mixed bag of emotions, so here’s a bit of advice to help alleviate some nerves you might have about figuring out your life.

Your career journey is a marathon, not a sprint

You might have been drowning in deadlines at university, but your career journey happens on your own time. You might have target for when you’d like to start your first graduate job, but stay flexible and go easy on yourself.

In my last semester of university, it felt like all my friends had graduate jobs lined up and I was the odd one out. And when I decided to take a gap year (which became two gap years), I felt even further behind.

But I found my place, and those two years were instrumental in my personal and professional growth. They gave me clarity about my strengths, values, motivations and goals, and this insight propelled me forward.

You can’t be “behind” everybody else when you’re not all going the same direction.

It’s your journey, not someone else’s

Oh, this is so real. I remember my mum really pushing me to pursue architecture over journalism and then panicking when I did a 180. (She also wasn’t keen on me moving abroad and still tries to guilt trip me into moving closer to home. Fair enough!)

It’s hard not to internalise other people’s stresses and expectations about your life, but you have to stay true to yourself.

If I’d stuck with architecture, I wouldn’t have been fully emotionally committed to it. I probably wouldn’t have been very happy, and ultimately, my mum wants me to be happy.

Having the agency to make decisions for yourself can be intimidating but so empowering, whether it’s changing degrees or careers, pursuing another degree, relocating or starting a new hobby (I personally recommend anything creative or outdoorsy).

Unpredictability is a blessing in disguise

Things will happen in life that you least expect, and that can be amazing.

When I started an architecture degree in a rural part of Upstate New York, I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d end up working in communications at “Hogwarts” (ie an ancient university in Scotland). I regret nothing!

So, if you’re faced with an unexpected opportunity, don’t dismiss it outright. Give it some consideration. Remember, it’s your life!

Weeks, months, maybe years later, you’ll see how that surprise event affected you in incredible ways.

Best of luck as you finish the last few weeks (or days) of your degree and take your next steps after university. You got this!

First published: 2 May 2024

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