The future is a scary thought. It’s hard to imagine what your life will be like once you graduate because you’ve spend so long going to school and having tons of free time. Making a lifestyle change is difficult, especially after so much time.
Not only that, but it’s stressful applying to jobs and internships. You may not know of all the different jobs that are out there, and it can be overwhelming to search for them. People’s passions change; you could realize you enjoy something different from what you focused on in school.
I’m not here to tell you exactly how to move confidently into future as a fully prepared young woman. If I’m being honest, I’m also nervous about the future. The unknown is one of humanity’s shared fears, but we still make it through. Throughout my time at college, I have changed the direction of my career path many times. Thankfully, everything I want to do is within the study of communications. For the longest time, I wanted to be a sports broadcaster or a sports news anchor. I realized I didn’t enjoy these paths as much as I thought I would upon taking some related classes. It wasn’t until I ran the Instagram for my sorority that I realized I wanted to lean into the marketing and social media side of sports. If I come to realize that I don’t enjoy these things as much as I thought I would, it’s ok to change directions again. It’s important to remind yourself that it’s better to make these changes now than to suffer in silence for the rest of your adulthood. Some people don’t find out what they love until years after they enter the workforce. What I’m trying to get across is that you don’t have to know exactly what job you’re going to want or have once you graduate. Take some pressure off of yourself!
I am the type of person who needs to have a plan as to what I am doing for each day of my life. I write everything down so I don’t forget anything. Because of this, it’s been super stressful not knowing what internship I will have this summer or what job I will have after graduation. In an effort to alleviate the stress, I am trying to take it slow and enjoy these final moments that I have in college. Obviously, you can’t go into graduation having no idea what you want to do with your future, but there are small things you can do to make you feel more prepared. For example, I like to narrow down the area that I would like to live in so that I am looking for companies and brands in those areas. I am from Dallas, Texas, so for me an easy area to look at is Dallas. It feels good to me that I am somewhat familiar with the area, because it wouldn’t be too big of a change for me. You may want to move somewhere completely opposite of where you grew up, so it’s good to research what areas you would be willing to live in and why. It’s also helpful to make a list of what you’re looking for in a job. This may help you to know what type of company you want to work for and ultimately set you up for your happiest future possible!
Everyone just wants to lead a successful life. While in college, make those connections, join those clubs, and soak up every experience you possibly can. The students in your classes could be your future colleagues, and they could even help you get a job someday. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends if anyone they know has connections in the industry you are entering. Clubs are great places to start making connections, get career advice, and sometimes even get hands-on career experience! The people you meet in college can also help relieve your stress about the future because at the end of the day… we’re all in the same boat!
Starting to plan can help ease your nerves, but it won’t get rid of them completely. While you are still in college, take the time to breathe and enjoy both the big and small moments. Going into the real world will be a big change, but it’s nothing that you aren’t prepared for. Invest yourself in a strong support system, and ease yourself into looking at jobs and areas that you want to work in. This way, when graduation does come around, it won’t feel nearly so unknown. There are plenty of people who are stressed about their future, and I’m here to tell you that you are not alone with that feeling. You’re nothing but capable of taking hold of your future and making the most of it. You got this!