Hi, Scholars! Happy August! It’s been some time since our last blog post–sorry about that, things have been busy around here. Now that it is officially back to school season, you’ll be hearing from us more often again *try to contain your excitement lol*.
Our welcome back blog post covers a topic requested by some of our Instagram followers: tips for transitioning from college into the career world–also known as the “adult” world. Even for those who are still in college or going into college, you should check out these tips for adulting in general.
This is also our first time having a guest blogger! Welcome Keva Coles-Benton, a 2017 graduate of Morgan State University, to our site! We were excited to work with Keva because 1) she recently experienced the college-to-career transition herself–and did it successfully and 2) she has a blog, Be Your Own Beautiful Enterprise, dedicated to teaching college students professional skills.
Thanks to Keva for being part of our Scholar Village! Check out her post below, and let us know if you have anything to add.
Cheers to the 2019-2020 academic year, Scholars!
In scholarship and solidarity,
Dr. Davis
——————–
Graduating into the Adult Life: Tips for Transitioning from College to the Real World
Graduating is such a bittersweet time in our lives. After several years of hard work, the exhaustion is settling in and this thing called “adulting” will consume you if you’re not prepared. Do you have a job lined up? If you live on campus do you plan to move back home or rent an apartment? Do your finances allow you to survive without parental assistance? These questions are overwhelming, but the first step is understanding that you’ll never have EVERYTHING figured out.
Life will be exactly what it is… life. There’s always a hurdle to jump or a problem that needs solving but you can’t allow transitions to scare the life out of YOU. Plenty of studies show that stress and anxiety in college students is high because so many of us don’t catch the curve balls life throws. The good news? You become a better catcher with experience. The bad news? The curve balls never stop and approach much faster as you improve.
The best defense against the pressure of transitioning is preparation. Be prepared to fall, but you’ll get back up. Be prepared for disappointment but understand that it means something better is in store. Be prepared for detours in your well thought out plan, but understand it had to go that way for reasons you don’t recognize yet. Whatever you experience is for a purpose and that perspective will carry you through some of your hardest times.
But what about my day-to-day lifestyle?
As cliché as it sounds, self-care is the best care. Do something daily to clear your mind or make things a little easier like:
Write down a detailed plan of short and long-term goals. Seeing is believing, so write down your goals and address how you plan to accomplish them step by step. Post them in a place you spend a lot of time like your cubical at work or on your fridge.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Maybe you have a great relationship with an old internship coordinator or a professor that you really connected with. These networks can be your saving grace beyond the university walls. You never know the strings a professor can pull to help you out with a job or even other general needs.
Create a budget. Know what you’re working with in the bank. Being a new graduate comes with new financial responsibilities sooner than later. Write down all your bills, debts, and other expenses. Then, evaluate where you can cut back and start an emergency savings fund.
Be consistent with your favorite hobby. You need an outlet. Always do what you love because life goes on even when obstacles unfold. Whether it’s journaling, dancing, reading, or taking one day a week to strictly rest, be sure to take time to enjoy your own company outside of the distractions of life.
Talk to a counselor. Don’t be ashamed to seek professional help if you think it’s necessary. We all need someone objective to share our concerns with because our friends and family can be too close to our experiences.
Transitioning has it challenges, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. There’s no guarantee that you’ll accomplish all your goals shortly after graduation, but you can bet that hard work and preparation pays off. Use every resource, trust the process (no matter how tough it gets), and push forward. You’ve got this!