It is April of my senior year of college, and I have no idea what I’m going to do once I graduate.
Up until now, my life has been completely linear: from grade school, to high school, and then to college. Now, at 22 years old, it is the very first time that I do not have a plan. I’ve been trying to ignore this fact basically the entire semester by applying for jobs and working to formulate a plan that will fall into place, but it’s time to face the music. I really have no idea what I’m going to do once I move out of my college house on Caro Street.
A few things have helped me digest this fact, but one conversation in particular has changed my perspective more than others. About a month ago I was talking to one of my family friends who’s also a senior in college, and has a job that will begin in mid-June following our graduations that’s been lined up since August.
When he asked me what I was going to do after graduation, I said I was still figuring things out and trying to appreciate the unknown — rather than fear it (with a strong emphasis on trying). He responded with something along the lines of: “Well, if it makes you feel any better I’m jealous of your unknown, because I don’t have any unknown. Just dread.” I may have exaggerated that quote for the purposes of self-comfort, but the point remains the same.
This next month, while I scramble and try to figure out what I’m going to do with my life after May 22 — the day of Commencement -– I’m simultaneously going to be appreciating the unknown. I get to take all of the valuable life lessons and skills I’ve learned in my time at Holy Cross and see where they fit into the real world, wherever that may be!