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8/7/2024 By Barbara Hartman
Congratulations! All those all-nighters, tears, and coffee cups yielded results—you have just graduated college.
But relishing in the joy of this important milestone can leave a dry aftertaste and a sensation of uncertainty. After all, with this chapter closed, you must ponder and decide what path to take next.
Luckily, things are not as black and white as you might think. There are plenty of options to consider—and the following ten ideas might give you the insight you need to face the future with certainty.
If your chosen career path requires higher education or specializations, continuing immediately after college ensures you keep the momentum going, and thus, the knowledge you have acquired remains fresh. Likewise, you won’t have to worry about reintroducing yourself to the academic environment, and you will have fewer real-life circumstances that will keep you from achieving the desired degrees.
Even if you’re not interested in a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD, many more ways to continue your education are worth considering and exploring.
If you are not interested in pursuing further academic goals, then odds are most of your books and textbooks are just sitting there as expensive dust collectors.
As such, consider decluttering your studying spaces to make moving more manageable and prevent cluttering. Take some time to ponder and evaluate which textbooks will no longer serve you in the future, and then choose whether to donate or sell them.
Luckily, there are plenty of websites where to sell used books for a reasonable price, which can also give you some extra income.
Let's be honest—graduating college means facing the costs. Things like student loans, new living quarters, a new professional wardrobe, the equipment you might need for your professional life, and more can weigh on your mind and your wallet.
If you’re eager to save as much money as possible and have a welcoming family ready to support you, you should consider temporarily moving back home. It may be seen as an undesirable path, but it’s a cost-efficient way to build your future, save money, and develop yourself.
There is a lot of pressure for you to move on from studying to the workforce immediately. However, this nonstop schedule is not your only option.
If you can, taking a gap year can provide you with invaluable skills, insight, and strength that you may not find on campus or in the workplace. It can benefit you by giving you a much-needed mental break and the time to pursue hobbies, develop extra abilities, strengthen your interpersonal skills, or even enrich your life with irreplaceable experiences and mental clarity.
Traveling abroad, hobbies, and networking are activities you could engage in during a gap year.
The best compromise between furthering your goals, sharpening your skills, and traveling the world is teaching abroad.
Many countries welcome native English speakers as language teachers for children or adults, usually college graduates with a TEFL or TESOL certification. This will allow you to engage with a brand-new culture and open your horizons while earning money and building connections.
The most popular destinations are in Asia, such as South Korea, Japan, China, or Thailand, but options exist worldwide.
If you are interested in academics or are looking forward to gaining experience and earning some money, remaining on your campus as an employee might be an excellent idea worth considering.
Many colleges hire past students upon graduation, not necessarily in an academic or educational position. Departments such as development or admissions are always on the lookout and could be excellent stepping stones to help you develop skills, network, or simply earn money while deciding your next step.
Bonus advantage—getting hired might be easier with the assistance of professors, instructors, or employees you already know.
Although it may be work without payment, volunteering is a valuable experience that will make an impact internally and externally.
Naturally, volunteering will contribute to a community or a cause you feel passionate about, creating a real and palpable change in the world. Likewise, it will also give you hands-on experience and multiple skills that will enrich your repertoire and resume.
If you discover a true passion for the cause you volunteer for, it may lead to a full-time paid position through your results or the connections you built.
Internships might not be the most well-paid positions ever, but much like volunteering, they can be an efficient way to secure a full-time job and learn the hard and soft skills needed to polish your resume and improve your professional standing.
Be sure to prioritize paid internships, but don't forget to consider the value of the experience and professional contacts you may get. Likewise, it's essential to remember that they are valuable ways to make your way into more competitive industries.
Considering serious and formal future paths is of uttermost importance, but it's not everything.
Upon graduating college, consider investing in your passions, whatever they might be. It could be your career, but it can also be something entirely unrelated. It may be paid, or perhaps something just to clear your mind. The important part is to dedicate some time to something that genuinely makes you happy.
If you want, you can also turn it into something you can profit from. Sewing, painting, mechanics, or designing—whatever you love can become a job or future business.
If you want to earn some money and experience while remaining independent, freelance work might be your solution.
Not only does it allow you to create your ideal work-life balance, but it also gives you a chance to use your time as you desire—you can even travel the world or start experimenting with potential projects, all while earning an income and a series of skills that may come handy in the near future..
Although these options are some of the most popular and rewarding, they are far from the only ones. You can do countless things right after college according to your desires, tastes, possibilities, and aspirations.
However, there is only one thing you should not do: fall for external pressure.
After college, your future is the one on the line. Whatever your family demands, your peers do, or what you feel society requires of you is not what you should do.
Taking the time to ponder and ensure your choice aligns with your identity is the perfect way to pave the path to your future, so don’t be afraid of following your head and your heart.
