“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4: 6-7
From grade school to college, everybody looks forward to finishing school. After burying your head in paperwork, waking up at 6:00 AM for classes, and endless sleepless nights, finals week and graduation are suddenly approaching. Before you know it, you’ve walked down the aisle, gotten your diploma and the rest is history.
What’s next? You did it. You’ve graduated. Now time to think about job searching. Maybe even going back home if you attended college in a different state or country. Maybe the next chapter is going to graduate school.
The anxiety and stress that come with post-college plans is normal. Everybody expects you to plan for the future. You might think it’s too late, but it’s never too late to figure out your passions and interests! 😘
Here are four tips on navigating life after college:
1) Get Internships 💼
You might be thinking internships aren’t important since you graduated and you need to start looking for jobs. It can be challenging, especially if you don’t have previous work experience or have only been involved in a few campus activities. Internships give you transferable skills that you can later use in jobs!
2) Volunteer 🤝
Like internships, volunteering at nonprofit organizations or NGOs can definitely help you build a resume and portfolio for whatever jobs you apply for, plus give you transferable skills. Volunteering can also help you discover your passions and interests!
3) Take a Gap Year ✈️
Gap years are done mostly by high school students who either haven’t thought about college or who don’t want to go to college right away. But gap years can be beneficial to college students, too! You can go on a service-learning trip, travel, and see the world. They give you both skills for jobs and life!
4) Get a Job 👔
This might be the most obvious one, but it’s important to get a job after college, even if it’s just in retail. It’s okay to have an in-between job before your “adult job” comes by! We live in a world where we need money for a place to stay, to buy food, and other necessities, especially if you plan to either stay in the town you’re attending college in or even when moving back home.
There are several different programs you can do to fill up the gaps in your schedule that were once filled with classes, schoolwork, and after-school activities. The most important thing is to make sure you’re staying productive and ultimately doing things that fulfill you.
Most importantly, if you’re a follower of Jesus, you’ll want to spend a lot of time reading the Bible and praying, asking God to guide you through your next steps. He can and will guide you through whatever comes your way!
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Life after college can be nerve-wracking, but it’s ultimately a chance for you to take the skills you gained over the years and put them into practice.
We’re here for you and cheering you on. Here’s to thriving post-college.
Go get ‘em! 😉💪
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