It’s crunch time for students now with only four weeks left of school. For many, all that’s on their minds is passing their tests and summer plans, but for those graduating, there’s a much scarier issue facing them: What next?
It’s far too stressful to think about the insanity of surviving in the real world in April. Unfortunately, many students are already stressing out about their prospects and that stress may affect their classwork and any enjoyment of the semester home stretch.
While post-college life is indeed a major turning point in one’s experience, it shouldn’t ruin one’s current situations. Thinking about the inevitable adult problems to face can be overwhelming at best and terrifying at worst.
The best thing to do as the college experience winds to a close is to take things one step at a time. Yes, the job hunt, living arrangements and general real-world stuff is important and should not be overlooked, but it’s only April and the life you’re currently living isn’t going to stop for your convenience.
Priorities are everything for a college student. If you’re taking six or so classes, juggling it all is hard work, but perfectly doable. That same mentality applies to taking on the world after graduation, worrying about your future and focusing on the present at the same time.
Remember, you’re a student first at the University of Idaho. Tests, projects and various assignments are the imminent issue facing this year’s graduating class. Just because you’re leaving in a few weeks, doesn’t mean that your workload should suffer.
If you could get through three school years before, the same should apply this year. Balancing everything you need to get done with a social life is what most everyone on Earth does every day. Focus on what’s important. Thinking long-term about how scary apartment hunting is going to be won’t bode well for passing your classes.
That being said, the post-graduation world is not to be underestimated. It is scary out there and if you’re someone who has a specific future planned out, odds are good that you’ll have to think about that future before tossing your cap into the air.
That’s why this university has great resources like the Career Center that will help you out with the chaos of job searching. It won’t get done for you, but help like that will make it just a little bit easier.
If you can, make the extra effort to find time to meet with these great resources and start planning your future. It may seem like more work to complete near the end, but in the long run, it will do wonders.
But most importantly, be sure to savor these last few weeks. College is an incredible experience that many regard as the best time of their lives. The fact that you’re moving on to the real world is a big deal. It may seem like a colossal task that is insurmountable, but breaking it down to a manageable size will not only make you feel better, but it will get it done faster. So buckle down, strap in and be ready for whatever comes next.
Bradley Burgess can be reached at [email protected]