The entirety of our high school experience is accompanied by several grownups telling us what our life will be like after graduation. You will go to college. Your teachers will not be the same as in high school. You will spend countless hours studying. You will also have the opportunity to party a lot. You will meet new people. You will forge your career path. Basically, you know what to expect from your time in college. But not a lot of people tell you what to expect once you graduate college. Yes, you know you must get a job, but not much besides that. Probably because adulthood is a roller coaster of emotions, experiences, and stress, and no one wants to scare you.

However, while you are a student, you are constantly thinking about what comes next. During your first semester, you are excited and already picturing your last semester. You see yourself walking to get your diploma and proudly showing it off for everyone to see. On your last semester, you picture yourself having your dream job and do your best to graduate with the possibility of getting there pretty fast. While you are daydreaming of this, not many people tell you how to plan for life after college. What should you do? Where should you go? Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? All things you need to keep in mind. Based on my experience, here are a few important things you should consider before graduating college:

Where to Move

Before graduating college, you should start thinking about where you want to go next. Do you want to stay in the same city? Do you want to go somewhere new? Some people choose the place they want to go to and then look for a job. Others decide it is best for them to get a job and go where it takes them. The important thing is that you decide to do what is best for you. Think about your happiness and figure out where that leads to.

Which Companies/Opportunities

We all have our dream job in mind, but sometimes we need to work hard before we get there. For that reason, you should have a list of all the companies you would like to work for or the opportunities that would benefit you. Think of those organizations which align with your thoughts, beliefs, and opinions, and will lead you to the position you want the most. See if your college offers any internships with those businesses and take advantage of that.

Who Matters

When it comes to the next step in your life and your career, you need to ask the question of who matters? And the answer should always be you. Do not put your dreams on hold for anyone. Do not stop fighting for what you want just because someone else asked you to. What matters is that you make yourself happy and you get yourself where you have always wanted to be. Do not be afraid to follow your dreams.

What Comes Next

College students always ask themselves about their future. They wonder what will happen next and where they will end. Throughout your time as a student, you should constantly ask yourself these questions and try to figure them out. Think about where you see yourself in the next few years and what you should do to get there. Should you get a Master’s degree? Should you apply for an internship? What job should you apply for first? Take these semesters to figure out what your next step should be.

Being a student and not knowing what the future holds can be scary, but you can always plan for it. Figure out different paths you would like to follow. Think about the kind of person you would like to become. Take the time to know and understand yourself. Once you do, it will be much easier to know what step to take next.

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