So this post goes 50/50. You are either reading this because you are the 50% that has already graduated college & you want to see if you agree with the read, or your are the other 50% that hasn’t graduated yet & you want to know what all the fuss is about.
You guys, I graduated college almost exactly a year ago & let me tell you – life after – is nothing like I expected it to be.
Remember how you felt after graduating high school, and you were about to start college?? You were excited to be on your own, create your own schedule, have no rules & basically get to “adult”…well graduating college is nothing like that (if you’re still in school, sorry to burst your bubble).
Don’t get me wrong, graduating from college is still a super exciting time. And you will still have that giddy feeling – you get to be excited for change, you get to start making money, maybe you’re stoked to get an apartment & decorate – whatever it is you have to look forward to. But I feel like nobody addresses the other feelings that come over you after graduating college – sad to leave your friends, no more naps between classes, packing up and moving, all the things that weigh on you.
So here we go – 9 things that I feel like nobody warns you about for after college
How alone you will feel
This is first on the list because I feel like this one is the hardest – you go your whole life living with your parents, then 4 years living with some of your best friends & then BOOM – just like that, you graduate & you are on your own.
No more random interruptions, or being woken up by your roommates loud music, no more knocking on their door to talk when you need a friend – & its not as easy to get used to as you would think.
My advice – get a dog or a cat to talk to or get used to talking to yourself.
Your first job might not be what you thought you wanted
All throughout college you think about landing your dream job right after graduation. You probably spent hours on end, maybe even days applying to job after job after job – submitting your resume, typing up cover letters – just to hear back from less than half of them. Then one day, you get the call/email saying “Congratulations, you have been selected for an interview” & then you get the next call a week or two after your interview, “Congratulations, we would like to offer you the job”. & you are super crazy happy, you call all your friends & family to share the big news – just to end up realizing this is nothing that you actually wanted.
I am here to tell you with confidence – this is okay, don’t freak, we are young & this is the time to figure it out!
You were actually rich in college
So you may not have had a TON of money in college, but it was easier to maintain. After college you may be making a solid income but now all of these bills come into play – student loans, rent, utilities, groceries, work clothes, health insurance, random expenses that come up when you least expect it, etc. Now all of the money you make goes straight to paying bills. Have fun with that.
Ummmmm, well – good luck Charlie.
Early bedtime
You used to think being in bed by 10 or 11 pm was early, SIKE – you will catch yourself in bed as early as 7 or 8 pm now. You will quickly realize that you can’t hang like you used to and you will feel old while you’re still young.
If you have trouble creating a sleep schedule, try melatonin – my favorite: Olly – Restful Sleep Gummies.
Routine blues
You wake up, drive in morning rush hour, work for 9 hours, drive in afternoon rush hour, cook dinner, get things around for tomorrow, & then go to bed – just to wake up and do it alllllll over again the next day. It weighs on you after a while (be sure to find time to squeeze some fun in there).
Try blasting your favorite song on the way into work & mentally plan your drink of choice on your way home!
You continue to eat ramen
Just when you thought that your big girl job will allow you to afford the good food, you realize those are big dreams & you continue to eat ramen while you work towards getting on your feet – that’s okay, spruce it up with an egg & some added veggies.
A whole meal for less than a dollar? Can I get an AMEN?
When the holidays come, it still feels like you get time off
This one will hit you like a brick wall, by the time the holidays come around & businesses get busy – you realize just how ready you are for a little time off. You mentally start planning all of the things you want to do on break – then all of a sudden you realize you have to work on christmas eve…
Lol, remember when we were so excited to grow up?
You’re officially a freshman again
Just when you got so comfortable being the big dog….back to the bottom of the totem pole you go. The new kid on the block. The newbie. You get to start fresh and work towards big kid status yet again. Learning new things & putting in the grunt work. Introducing yourself to all new people & making new friends. Enjoy it.
Why is making friends as an adult so challenging?
Your parents are on speed dial
Time to file your taxes, your insurance screwed up, your toilet won’t flush, you overdraft your bank account, your water tank is making funny noises – HELP. You will catch yourself calling your parents at the most random hours of the night & looking for advice & guidance. You quickly learn how many things you didn’t know about being on your own – just remember don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice.
I promise, your parents will love to know that they are still able to help guide you.
So there you have it, the things that nobody warns you about for after graduation. Everyone has their own struggles after graduation & realizes things on their own time – these 9 things that I noticed, might not be the same for you. But I sure do wish someone gave me a heads up prior!
Hang in there, we got this!