Dear Fellow Post-Graduates and Readers,
Let’s talk about the post-college identity crisis, it’s not talked about enough and often gets brushed aside as we’re all trying desperately to live our ideal adult lives.
Similar to high school, in college it’s easy to identify yourself as an athlete, robotics team member, or president of the theater club, name your niche. For me, it was the Honors Program, sorority sister (shoutout to my ΔΦΕ ladies!), and “queen” of a social group on campus. Come my graduation in May 2022, that wasn’t me anymore, or at least, it certainly felt like those aspects of me were things I had to move on from.
People have told me that college is about finding yourself, and I agree. However, when college is over, oftentimes it seems as though that process restarts. The community of people you had in college, who recognized you and vice versa, has scattered to the winds and you no longer live down the hall from your closest friends. If you’re in a new city, you may feel alone, if you’re in your hometown you may feel stuck or like you’ve missed out on something. There doesn’t seem to be a right answer, no obvious next step.
You’re not alone, so many people feel this way after college. There are things you can do to combat these feelings. Contrary to what social media tells you, not everyone’s post-grad life is sunshine and rainbows.
My number one piece of advice, invest in your personal and professional development. The first job you land in may not be what you had imagined for yourself – don’t panic – it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve what you’ve hoped to do, instead, see it as a stepping stone in the right direction. Ask about development opportunities there are at work and get involved in anything you’re able to. Your employer should want to invest in you and appreciate someone who is always willing to learn. Bottom line, ask or you won’t receive.
It’s important that you invest time in you and allow yourself that time to find what makes you the happiest. My first apartment was not where I thrived; my second fits me so much better, little changes like where you wake up in the morning can make a huge difference. My first career role, the one I’m in now, is not where I imagined myself. During the job search, I was looking at roles in public relations and the travel industry. Regardless, I landed in higher education as my nine-to-five because I had the transferable skillset for my role.
Because I decided to try something I didn’t picture for myself, I love my job, and my coworkers utilize and encourage my other passions. It’s clear they believe in me to go after the things I want for my future. I have learned so much already, and by the time I am ready to take my next step, I know I’ll be prepared for it. At the moment, I know I’m in my ideal job, but I needed to overcome the idea that it’s not the industry I had pictured for myself.
Keep in mind, your identity does not stop at your job. I am so much more than my role, I write this travel and lifestyle blog because it’s what I love. I find joy in arranging flowers and designing graphics, none of these have anything to do with my career, and I love them anyway. You can identify yourself however you’d like to, regardless of if your career relates or not.
Be open about where you’ll be after college, oftentimes opportunities will find you rather than the other way around, try not to be closeminded to them. No matter what you do, your interests and priorities will change as you grow as a person and things happen in your life.
Investing in yourself as I mentioned earlier also means creating a professional brand, so, what does that mean? It’s how other people view both your skills, as well as your values and how you portray them. It’s the way you differentiate yourself and help others to see who you are.
When deciding on a brand, don’t feel the need to be everything to everybody; pick a niche or mission that you’re passionate about and concentrate on those things. Be your authentic self; otherwise, people will see through your messaging pretty quickly. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the LinkedIn profiles and websites of Tori Dunlap or Victoria Garrick Browne; both have a variety of platforms, but Dunlap’s brand centers around financial feminism and money education, and Garrick Browne is an advocate for mental health, particularly with student-athletes. Both brands have a clear main message, but also incorporate their values and relatable tone to their audience.
If you take nothing else away from this article remember these things:
- You’re not the only one in a place you didn’t expect yourself to be.
- You’re not the only one unsure of what’s next for them.
Build yourself up. Put time into yourself and generate your own professional brand. It will set you apart and allow a platform (or many!) for self-expression. The transition between college and adult life is not an easy one, but it can be conquered.
Worth Every Mile 