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Female students throw their graduation caps in the air.
Female students throw their graduation caps in the air.
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UCLA | Career

The Pressure to Have Your Life Figured Out by Graduation

Ariana Lashgari Student Contributor, University of California - Los Angeles
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

As Spring sets in and the Senior photoshoots become all-encompassing, we are all reminded of what is looming over these Seniors: graduation. Graduation should be an exciting, pride-filled time when graduates can look back at all of their accomplishments. The problem is what comes after. The constant question of “what are you doing after graduation?” can make it seem scary to move on when you might not have everything figured out yet, but by constantly emphasizing having everything figured out, we neglect the value of exploration after graduation. 

The pressure placed on students can come from their peers, friends, family and even societal expectations about what graduation means. For many, this may be the first time they are expected to provide for themselves entirely, which can be daunting. Comparative culture can also increase the pressure on students. Looking at peers’ accomplishments and LinkedIn posts can be disheartening when you compare yourself, but likely, you do not give yourself enough credit. 

women in conversation
Photo by Amy Hirschi from Unsplash

The pressure can cause students to choose career paths due to fear rather than genuine interest, which can greatly affect one’s quality of life. It is not unusual to feel anxiety and self-doubt when it seems like everyone around you knows what the future holds, and you don’t. However, the mental effects of comparison can be debilitating in themself and cause more barriers to success. Your success is not measured by those around you, so don’t let the fear of failure hold you back from taking risks. 

Your life is not dictated by what you do immediately after graduation. Life is full of twists and turns and opportunities for growth in places you may not be able to imagine now. Uncertainty is normal, and in many cases even necessary for growth. Success doesn’t have a fixed timeline. Society perpetuates arbitrary timing for when certain goals should be achieved, but at the end of the day, everyone has their own timeline. The freedom that not being locked into one career provides is valuable in itself. 

Person holding white scroll
Photo by Ekrulila from Pexels

Beginning your life after college is just a starting point for the rest of your life, not a destination. Having a fixed plan is meaningless when one does not have the skills for success, so rather than feeling the need for a plan, hone your skills so you will have the freedom to pursue what you desire. Being open to growth can be extremely freeing, and so can the realization that failure is an impermanent concept. Lacking a plan is just the opportunity to explore something new, and you have the rest of your life to try new things until you find the one that fits.

Ariana Lashgari

UCLA '27

Ariana is a third-year Political Science major and Community Engagement and Social Change minor at UCLA from San Diego, California. She enjoys long walks on the beach, watching trending shows, and trying new food wherever she can. Outside of HER Campus, she is involved with the Persian Society for Community outreach as well as UCLA’s pre-law fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.