The caps and gowns are in. The announcements have gone out. Calendars have been marked. You know what that means, graduates! It is time to kiss college goodbye and begin the next chapter of your life.
And while the prospect of the real world is scary enough, some college seniors say that the worst thing about graduating is having to answer the dreaded question: “So, what are you going to do after college?”
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s a natural question to ask someone who is graduating, but the simple truth is, college seniors are sick of hearing it. But why is this?
The reason that some college seniors hate this question is the weight of it. When asked what they are going to do with their degree, it implies that there is a right or wrong answer to the question and with fear of failure comes fear of being judged.
Here are some reasons that people hate answering the dreaded question:
1. Fear of judgement for not having an immediate achievement or success right after graduation; such as not immediately having a job already lined up, or not knowing if they want to pursue higher education right away.
2. The question feels like we are being tested. (And believe me, college students just got done with our final exams and defending theses. We are tired of being tested.)
3. We don’t want to let people down. We worked very hard for several years to achieve our degrees and if we don’t have all the answers, it can be a real letdown, not only to the people around us, but also to ourselves.
But, let’s face it, we still want to know what people are planning for their next chapter. So, instead of asking the dreaded question, try these alternatives:
“So, what’s your dream?”
“What all can you do with that degree?”
“So, where ya headed after this?”
These questions help promote a more open discussion, rather than asking for a black and white answer. This can help make a graduate feel more comfortable sharing their passion for their degree subject with you.
All in all, don’t sweat the dreaded question because most people wind up using their degrees in ways they never imagined and a degree is meant to help you grow, not limit you. We should also remember that life is not always going to have a clear next step. Sometimes we have to jump on a few stepping stones before we find the path that will take us to success. It’s just another way that we continue learning, long after college.
Let me just say, congratulations to all the graduating seniors. I hope that whatever you do after college brings you happiness worth celebrating.
Stay Dreaming, Ladies!
sources:
https://www.americaninno.com/boston/how-to-wear-a-cap-gown-without-looking-like-an-idiot/
https://sayingimages.com/graduation-meme/