One evening, after having opened and closed my social media apps for a hundred times while waiting for something exciting to pop up, I decided to check my emails. That was where I finally found something very exciting.
The topic of the message was ‘You have graduated’. I broke into a smile. There it was, right in front of my eyes: a confirmation that I had received a Master’s degree. Many years of work had paid off.
As I read the whole message, elation slowly slipped to the back of my mind and a dreadful feeling begun to swim in the pit of my stomach. Questions like ‘What comes next?’ and ‘Was it wise to graduate during a global pandemic?’ had filled my mind.
Graduation is a big milestone. Though it is something to be celebrated, it often comes with mixed feelings. Bernard Luskin (2012) refers to post-graduation stress as Post Commencement Stress Disorder (PCSD), which includes a set of symptoms that might affect new graduates as they are choosing and starting to pursue a career without the safety net provided by the academia. Symptoms of PCSD are e.g. feeling like not being in control of one’s life, experiencing a lack of support after graduation, and sleeplessness (Luskin, 2012).
In the world of Covid-19, the feelings that Luskin associates with PCSD can hit a recent graduate harder. The pandemic itself is already enough to scare us and affect our mental health. As life after graduation includes an element of uncertainty, now that element is even more apparent. Right now, the big question in the minds of recent graduates is not only whether the skills, knowledge and experience they have are enough. It is whether they are enough in these circumstances.
So, what now?
First of all, be understanding of your feelings. Feeling the graduation blues is very common and it means that you are processing a big change in your life. Graduation is not only the final leap from studies to work life, but it also symbolizes giving up a way of student life one has followed for years. When in need of support, talk to a friend or a relative who is or has been in the same situation.
Second, do not stop planning your future. Luskin (2012) suggests graduates to envision where they want to be after a few months after graduation, even if they do not yet know what they want to do. Taking action – e.g. applying for a position or updating a CV – is better than not doing anything at all (Luskin, 2012). If you face disappointments, be mindful of the fact that applying for positions might be more difficult now as the coronavirus has far-reaching consequences on the economy and the job market. Having trouble figuring out what comes next is understandable.
Third, remember what is important right now: staying safe and taking care of yourself. During the pandemic, make an effort to remind yourself of all the things you are grateful for. If the situation makes you feel like you’ll never land the job of your dreams, remember that things will not be like this forever. Also keep in mind that alternative routes to your goals are also possible (Luskin, 2012).
Fourth, be proud of what you’ve achieved. Right now, the feelings of joy and excitement are more than welcome. Graduation should be a source of those! Receiving a diploma means that you finally have the thing you have spent years working towards for. The global pandemic does not change a degree into a useless piece of paper.
Please note that PCSD is not an official medical diagnosis: it is a term meant to help people recognize the symptoms of post-graduation stress (Murphy, n.d.).
Luskin, B. (2012, May 18). Managing PCSD – Post Commencement Stress Disorder. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-media-psychology-effect/201205/managing-pcsd-post-commencement-stress-disorder
Murphy, E. (n.d.). Post-Graduation Stress. West Virginia University Extension Service. Retrieved from https://extension.wvu.edu/food-health/emotional-wellness/post-graduation-stress