
What Are Your Plans After Graduation?
It is the most dreaded day in a student's academic life. Graduates finally walk down the aisle, accompanied by fellow classmates who have worked just as hard to get to this very precise moment. Yet, they seem oblivious to the fact that even though they spent around 4 years building up to this moment, the sensation of relief and accomplishment will only last for a few days before they comprehend that this is not just merely the end of their college life , but the beginning of their real life. The ceremony is magnificent and the guest speaker is inspirational and pleasing. She encourages graduates to follow their dreams to wherever they may lead. However, this is just rhetoric, actual practice must be put in place in order to accomplish such aspirations and turn them into reality.
It is normal for students to be afraid at first. After all, this is a new stage in their lives where they will put into practice everything they learned in college. Many students find themselves in a panic when they realize that they have no clue of what is next in their lives. This feeling, as opposed to what most of them believe, is completely normal and is almost a rite of passage in a way. If you are feeling confident about what you want to do to with your life and believe you've got it all figured out, that's when I would start worrying. Uncertainty and doubt are important, they make people strive for better things.
My suggestion would be to just go with the flow and see what happens. Having an older sister who just graduated, and having seen many other friends graduate in past few years, I've come to realize that taking time to really figure out what you want to do in life might not be such a bad idea. Why take a mediocre job right away instead of waiting for the right one to come along? Or in that case, why even take a job at all! It might benefit you to do a few internships first in different fields and dip your toes a little to experience different mediums, especially if you graduated in a field as wide and full of opportunities like communication. You could intern in a newspaper for a while, write a few articles for a local fashion magazine and send them in to see if maybe you'll get published, or even try out for a radio spot. Whatever it is you decide to do, remember there are always a lot of options.
Furthermore, you should also seriously consider going back to school! I know, I know, just hearing the words school and you in the same sentence make you tremble. However, with the way the economy is right now and the high unemployment rate, which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website indicates has risen to over 8% this year, it might not be such a bad idea to think about graduate school.
Everyone's path is different. Making the right choice for you is vital. So think about it and after you do, let us know what you decided!
(Joana Santillana may be reached at joana.santillana@dusty.tamiu.edu)
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More thebridgenewspaper News Articles
Recent thebridgenewspaper News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR THEBRIDGENEWSPAPER

Top 5 Essential College Apps By Tina Gomez, Senior Reporter

Donuts a Call Away By Tina Gomez, Senior Report

FEAR is Coming By Judith Mae Aguilar, Senior Reporter

New Options for Laredo Foodies By Judith Mae Aguilar, Senior Reporter
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST THEBRIDGENEWSPAPER
RECENT THEBRIDGENEWSPAPER CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Making Your Energy Choices Count this Earth Day
- Classic Tales Make Great Easter Gifts For Little Ones
- Military Child Advocates for International Humanitarian...
- Early Screening—The First Step to Protect Your Memory a...
- How Black Americans Can Protect Their Cognitive Ability
- The Right Equipment Readies You For Storms, Unpredictable...
- Are Carbonated Drinks Bad For Your Teeth?
- A Moving New Book About Moving And Much More
- Denied Relief: Children with Migraine May Be Left Without...
- Top Tips To Keep Children Busy And Engaged During School...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- When it’s Smart to Put Down the Phone
- From Absence to Engagement: How Student Leadership is...
- Hot New Pet Products for Your Furry Best Friend
- Child Care Tuition Assistance Programs Available to Families
- My Doctor Saved My life, Diabetes Tech Gave Me Control
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Charming Spring Reads
- Sunscreen: You’re Not Fully Dressed Without It
- Step Into Spring – Don't Let Varicose Veins Stop You
- Test Story
- Test story II
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- When It Comes to Sex and Relationships, New Multimedia Campaign Empowers Young Adults to Get Past the Awk and Get to the Talk
- CARNEGIE YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAM OPENS CALL FOR 500 GEN Z LEADERS
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Announces2025 Dissertation Fellows
- DoSomething "Talking Trash" Campaign Equips Young People With the Knowledge and Tools to Improve Recycling in Their Communities
- Handshake Releases 2025 Internship Index: Advice for Gen Z Job Seekers as Competition Heats Up