The 5 Things I Learned about Life after College...

Wow! What an exciting time it is now in the year. Summer is right around the corner. It's finally time to put away the coats/jackets to bust out those swimsuits and Ray-Bans. However, perhaps the most exciting thing going on in some adolescent lives is the fact that they are graduating college and now coming into the "real world". I'd like to personally congratulate you for making the commitment to yourself and sticking through the late -night study sessions that lasted til 3am, those classes you thought that were going to be the death of you, also not to mention trying to make time to balance a social life.

I wanted to write an article about the things that I learned the year after I graduated college in May 2016. Stuff that I wish I had known before being thrown into the fire and left to figure out on my own. You learn what you’re capable of and what you must teach yourself. Feel free to use these guidelines as I have to remind myself of these 5 points often.

1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

I’ll say it again: Prepare. If this is the only takeaway you get from this article, please have it be this point. Preparing enables you to be setup for success in every aspect of life. It will bring you a lot of peace in life in times where it may feel like everything is out of control (like the first year out of college). If you want to eat healthier, pick a few hours out a specific day when you know you’ll be free to begin meal prepping for the week. If you are nervous about a presentation at work the following day, sit down and run through the presentation then think of any questions that someone may ask you. By having control over the little things in life, you’ll be able to enjoy moments when the task is finished instead of constantly feeling nervous.

"It will bring you a lot of peace in life in times where it may feel like everything is out of control"

 2. Find a hobby!

After you’ve left work for the day or started your weekend, find something that drives you to become someone who you’d like to be.  You’ve worked hard in your life to get to where you are. An idea I’ve done is to list out the stuff you’ve always wanted to learn how to do in college but never had the time for.  Whether it’d be graphic design, learning how to rock climb, or playing piano. Having something to look forward to beyond work will give life an exciting meaning.

3. Don’t have life figured out? Don’t fret.

One thing that has been evident beyond my first year is college is that at least 80% of the population question their own life and if they are actually happy. Life is about making spontaneous decisions and rolling the dice! Just because Johnny has life figured out doesn’t mean you need to. If anything, being self-aware about what you want out of life is a very great quality. You’ll go on many journeys to find the meaning of your own happiness and the subjects that matter. Don’t ever settle in a situation that you are unhappy about. Life will move quickly and you are only ever as young as you are now once.

"Don’t ever settle in a situation that you are unhappy about"

4. Do something you’re passionate about.

Yes, contrary to some parent’s beliefs and some professors life isn’t about money. Just be sure to work towards something that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning. We are fortunate to live in an age where people can chase their passions and make a living doing it. Don’t believe me? Look on Instagram. People who love traveling are doing it as a profession now thanks to photography and sponsors. The possibilities are out there. You just have to go out there and grab it. 

5. Things take time.

I’ve saved this for last because this is something I personally struggle with. Life doesn’t move as fast as one would like to think. The dream career you want won’t be built within a year. The dream car you’d like to have won’t appear in your driveway, maybe not ever. However, persistence is key. The act of getting 1% better every day will influence your future. I’ve read many articles on how “millennials” are “entitled” and “lazy”. Frankly, I choose not to believe this because by believing this you aren’t trying to turn the tides and prove people wrong. You may not be able to speak for an entire generation. But what you can do is be someone who influences people to think differently.

"However, persistence is key"

What is the one thing you wish you could have told yourself upon graduating college that you know now but wish you knew back then? Please post in the comments!