Graduating College

[CleverGoat]

Hi, I am graduating from college this semester, and I wanted to ask someone how they felt about it when they graduated college. Cause I'm feeling really anxious but glad it's finally over.

[DualDragons]

Coincidentically I am also gonna graduate this semester xD so I am in the same boat

[darthmongoose]

Honestly after four years of Japanese I was just absolutely exhausted, and it really didn't dawn on me until after the graduation ceremony and stuff that it was over and done with... that that was the end of my student life of living with those friends and that I'd actually barely see most of them again.

My advice is to treasure the remaining time you have with your classmates and make sure you have a way to keep in touch, and also start planning out what you'll need for job hunting now and look up which lecturers you'll want as referees on your CV/resume while you have access to them. It's really easy to hit a slump after uni that's hard to get out of, so keeping the momentum is good. Allow yourself a few weeks off, obviously, but be proactive and get to work on your career asap.

[NickRowler]

I was super unhappy with my college experience to the point where I refused to go to graduation. I wanted to drop out but was pressured to finish with a false hope it would help me in the long run. It hasn’t really.

Sorry for sounding like a downer. I guess I prefer working over taking classes.

[Zhengo]

Just graduated last year. Honestly, I just attended the ceremony because it wasn't something I'll probably experience again, even if the thing itself wasn't overly exciting.

As for the graduating itself, honestly I was super anxious lol. I knew I probably won't see most of my college friends for a while (maybe forever) and also I had just recently gotten rejected from other job apps. I had been so ready to get out of school beforehand, but when the moment came to it, I was worried that maybe the only thing I was good at was attending classes, and I'll never be able to translate that to real life.

Luckily I did get a job eventually after a few months, but the process getting there was honestly nerve-wracking and stressful

[frgmnt]

Can't lose college friends if you simply don't make any

[AlydaB]

I'm nowhere near being done with it, but I'm already excited to graduate and get it over with. I've got a ways to go, but I feel antsy to start the rest of my life.

I think, like you, I'll be glad it's finally over.

Good luck!

[fsarbolaez]

Relief. By the time I graduated, I was so sick of taking classes. They took up so much of my time and energy, I was so ready to finally work an actual paying job.

Just from my own experience, when people say your childhood and college years are the "good old days," don't believe them. The best days come after!

[MeltingCORE]

I also felt relief. University was a grueling process once I got to my Master's. I learned many valuable things and met many great people but it was intense for my mental health. Those exams don't play! (And by exams, our exams were taking turns giving seminars lmao. I earned my degree and more sdnlsdnb)

[MarMarTche]

It's a weird feeling for sure - anxiety and relief. Keep in touch with your contacts, it can get lonely going from having classes to having none and you never know who will have a job opportunity for you. If you made close connections with your instructors keep those going where you can, it's really useful to have as big a network as possible. Depending on where you are in the world you might be entering the job market at a great time. Just remember to take some time to relax, debrief and breathe.
Congratulations

[Mar_Sadeh]

I'm the rare individual who doesn't want school to end, despite having very few friends here and knowing I could probably do pretty well in the workforce with my current skills. I'm graduating soon, but I am sticking around for a graduate degree and possibly getting a PhD not long after! I am attending graduation, but only because I get some neat honors for doing so because I have a very good GPA and do research. Otherwise, I might not have bothered, because for me it isn't a meaningful transition since I'm just coming back the very next semester anyway.

They say people who get doctorates are the ones who were too scared to leave school - I might be such a case. XD

[RoPerrow]

I graduated from uni so long ago lol, but I liked my experience, and I still keep in touch with my friends that I made there. (I'm even going to one of their wedding's next month xD). Graduating was nice though. It felt sad and happy for me. Also, I don't know how your ceremony will be, but I was soooo hungry. xD There was lots of talking and picture taking and standing around and talking and nobody fed us. Keep snacks and water with you just in case!!! xD

[TheLemmaLlama]

It ... didn't feel very eventful to me, since I was entering a postgrad degree straight after (I'm still doing postgrad :P) There was no ceremony because covid (though even if there was, I probably wouldn't have attended because I'm cheap XD)

Was pretty anxious and excited about moving interstate for postgrad though, and testing out a certain lifestyle which turned out to be pretty successful and ensures I won't be as anxious when the time comes for my next graduation XD

[BreakingChalk]

Depends on everyone's personal experiences, but to me, it felt hollow.
First it was online, then like six months later, two events in which I was reminded of why I wanted to leave the place, and many other factors too personal for me to share here made that made the last year... empty.

Hopefully is not the case for you, those are moments meant for happiness, friendship and achievement, and when those feel genuine, they become special.

Wish you a lot of success on your professional life!

[Daisy]

unsatisfied with my performance during online classes and dread. idk if i want to pursue medschool but I have given myself one year to think about it before applying soooooooooooo... idk. I still want to work before then, in a company I want (hopefully).

also im going to graduate this semester.

[DanielRKM]

Oh man, what a whirlwind! Such an exiting/horrifying time in life.

To help with anxieties (and maybe boost your excitement), my I share one of my favorite bits of advice that I've come across? I OFTEN think of Neil Gaiman's words when contemplating future endeavors, career moves, etc. Life is weird, and rarely are things a linear path (I got my art job (which lead to becoming a creative director (still baffled by that one)) by being a bartender in a craft brewery. Life is crazy- but I always attempted to keep walking toward my "mountain," which has been extremely creatively fulfilling. You'll see what I mean if you decide to give this a watch.

Good luck!

[Bearkorps]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, I was kinda in the same boat. I was a pre-law major and the vast majority of my undergrad experience was political squabble after political squabble. At year 4 I was just done with everything and people in general. Though ironically I did go back several years later for graduate school in biology so take that as you will.
I think there's an unhealthy stigma around the need for the undergraduate experience overshadowing other alternatives like vocational schools and I generally didn't put much stock in my Bachelor's and I probably won't care much when I get my PhD.
I agree with darthmongoose, it's a good idea to try not to fall into the high school lazy senior and try to use the momentum from college to get something for after you graduate. I know I didn't and I'm only around cuz I got insanely lucky.

[NickRowler]

I graduated from college 10 years ago, so maybe I have some right to feel a bit bummed out. I might do a training program but I have zero interest in doing a 4 year program again.

[avocadoyes]

when I graduated college I felt like its finally over, I hated it. Honestly, it just felt like 4 wasted years. But I was happy its finished, and I finally can do whatever I want. By the way, I don't think I would finish it without the writing services like https://uk.edubirdie.com/dissertation-proofreading-service that were helping me with my tasks, like dissertation proofreading, for example. I was ready to spend all my money, just not to waste my time on that college ;D

[AnonymousHouseCat]

Hi! I just wanted to say that I appreciate this thread, since I am also a recent (grad school) graduate anxious about the future. I was kind of in a daze the actual day of my college graduation, because I had just finished finals, and literally had to finish moving out of the house where I was staying immediately after the ceremony.

I was pressured into grad school before I knew what I was doing, or even what I wanted to study, but I'm happy now that I had that experience. Grad school for me wasn't too big of a transition, since it was in a town where a lot of my college friends were also doing further education or working. The main difference was the workload. Currently, I've been working a bit, talking with as many friends and mentors as possible about their career paths, doing a lot of soul searching, and trying to figure out what's next. I've been inspired by classmates in my Master's program who were older, because it has shown me that you can always go back for more education if you want to, although it may be more difficult as you gain more responsibilities over time.

Best of luck to everyone here on your own journeys!