Ten Things I've Learned Since Graduating College
Today marks three years since I graduated college. THREE YEARS?! Since graduating, I’ve learned so much about living in the post college world – careers, money, relationships, moving, etc. - and I thought I’d share ten lessons that I’ve learned in my post grad life.
There is no shame in moving back home. Most people are not coming out of college with a full-time gig that will easily cover their rent. If you’re lucky enough that your parents will let you move back in with them, I highly recommend taking them up on that offer. Living at home allows you to save money and make payments towards your student loan, so that eventually you can branch out on your own.
Making new friends after graduating is hard but keep trying. I had a difficult time once I moved home meeting new people, but I also wasn’t helping my cause. I wasn’t branching out and wasn’t opening myself to the possibility of creating new friendships. Once I let my guard down, put in the effort, and focused on being myself, then I started to meet new people and began to form really great bonds.
Creating a budget is a great way to manage your money. Once I moved home and started working, my main money concern was paying off my student loan. Once I paid it off and moved out, I had to really buckle down and figure out how to manage my money effectively. I now had bills to pay, rent that was due each month, groceries I needed to buy, and a savings account that I wanted to build back up. Creating a budget allowed me to clearly track my spending and it keeps me in check financially.
Not everybody is meant to stay in your life forever. Some people are in your life for a short time, not a long time. That was a hard fact for me to accept because the relationships I build with people are very important to me and I put my all into those connections with people. After graduating, I learned that if I’m the only one putting in effort, then it’s probably best to let go. I can still cherish those memories that I built in friendships and relationships, but I can’t allow them to hold me back.
Piggybacking off of that, be mindful of the energy you allow into your life. You have no obligation to keep people in your life if all they bring you is negativity. As you grow, having people in your corner who support you, inspire you, and build you up is incredibly beneficial and rewarding. That energy will fill you up more than you know.
Not every job you get after college is going to be your dream job. Since graduating, I’ve held a handful of jobs, some that I loved, some that were not the right fit. But I’ve learned so much from all of them and that knowledge and experience has allowed me to settle into a position that fits me and continues to allow me to grow professionally. You should always strive and work towards building to your dream job, but just know that you may not get that right off the bat and that’s OK!
Make time for the things that bring you joy. No matter what it is, make time for something that fulfills you. Whether that be journaling, hiking, a workout class, weekly brunch with your gal pals, movie nights, whatever it is, give yourself time to kick weekly stress or frustrations to the curb to focus on your happiness.
Be unapologetic with what you want in life and where you want to go in life. Does that mean you have to have the next ten years mapped out right now? Absolutely not. But if you have dreams, passions, and ideas, chase them. Never let anybody make you feel bad for what you want or don’t want out of your life.
Be open to new opportunities and people. It’s very easy to stay in that “college kid” lifestyle right after you graduate, but it’s so much more fun to branch out and try new things and grow. Don’t get me wrong, it can be scary as hell, but it’s so, so worth it. You can try a new workout class, you can grab drinks with new coworkers, you can get a new haircut, you can move to a new city, you can do anything! Being open to new opportunities and people led me to a job that I enjoy that wasn’t initially on my radar and being in a relationship for over a year and a half with someone I reconnected with!
Strive to be a better person, to grow more, and love yourself every single day. This is one I’m currently still working on. Since graduating, I’ve had so much more on my plate and trying to “adult” can be very stressful at times. Working on myself and growing in a healthy way has become increasingly important for my well-being and that self-reflection has become a big focus in my post grad life.
Since graduating college, life has taken me in so many rewarding, challenging, happy, fulfilling directions and I’m still learning every single day. What have you learned in your post grad life? What are some lessons you’ve taken with you?
<— Jordyn, circa 2016