12/9/2020 0 Comments Comparison is the thief of joyStop comparing yourself to your peers. |
1. Someone will get married almost immediately after high school. 100% certain this will happen. It will probably be those high school sweethearts but you never know who in your class will bite the bullet and succumb to married life without wasting any time at all. Often times it is a peer whom you would never expect. The wild party girl who thinks it’s time to grow up overnight. The star of the football team who wants to stay relevant after falling to backup QB on his D3 team. Or that quiet girl from art class whose name has never showed up on your Facebook timeline before. |
Maybe this is you, though if you’re reading this I would guess it’s not. Don’t let the hasty decisions of your peers pressure you into jumping into something as seemingly permanent as marriage when you have ALL the time in the world to get married and settle down. These young people barely understand themselves, how can they begin to understand and care for someone else? Admittedly, some of the relationships will work out and the star couple will live happily ever after, but more likely than not (look at divorce statistics) the couple will find out they missed out on their twenties when everyone was off having fun.
If you can avoid getting married until you’re seriously ready, (like SERIOUSLY ready) you might find that patience will pay off when selecting your partner. And hey, dating around is good for you. Date different people and find out what clicks and what doesn’t.
2. One of your peers will travel the world… somehow
It’s bound to happen. One of your classmates will take a one way trip to (insert tropical paradise here) and you’ll never see them again, at least in person. You’ll see more than enough of them on your social media pages, where they’ll bombard you with constant reminders that they’re living a dream life which is “completely attainable” and “anyone can do it if they say YES to every opportunity!”
It’s bound to happen. One of your classmates will take a one way trip to (insert tropical paradise here) and you’ll never see them again, at least in person. You’ll see more than enough of them on your social media pages, where they’ll bombard you with constant reminders that they’re living a dream life which is “completely attainable” and “anyone can do it if they say YES to every opportunity!”
Unfortunately for most of us, the expectation to travel the world on a seemingly endless budget and jump from waterfalls at 10am on a Monday will not come to fruition. The most important thing to remember when following these people on social media is that someone is paying for it. Usually their parents, however there are a number of other ways money can be raised without working a real job. For 99.99% of us, this lifestyle is not going to happen because if everyone did it, there would be no more workforce. Also remember that while they are cliff diving and swimming with sharks, you are actually building skills and knowledge to propel you through the rest of your life where the instagram influencer will be left behind once the money stops flowing. |
3. One (or many) of your classmates will graduate early
I was one of these people, and trust me, it didn’t mean I was smarter or worked harder. Truth is, I had a lot of university credit from high school which transferred over seamlessly. Did I get a jump start on the real world? Yes. Was it critical? Not at all. One year in the grand scheme of life is practically a wash, and besides, college is supposed to be one of the most fun times of your life.
When else can you have class from 8am to Noon on a Friday and begin pregaming by 1 in the afternoon? When else in your life will you be surrounded by thousands and thousands of men and women whom you find attractive and whose hormones are also raging? And when else can you get away with partying the night before a big exam without worrying about getting fired or showing up to a work meeting hungover?
Truth is, college is a blast on all cylinders and taking a year away from a full college experience might have you feeling some regret. The only part of graduating early I didn’t regret was paying for another year of tuition…
I was one of these people, and trust me, it didn’t mean I was smarter or worked harder. Truth is, I had a lot of university credit from high school which transferred over seamlessly. Did I get a jump start on the real world? Yes. Was it critical? Not at all. One year in the grand scheme of life is practically a wash, and besides, college is supposed to be one of the most fun times of your life.
When else can you have class from 8am to Noon on a Friday and begin pregaming by 1 in the afternoon? When else in your life will you be surrounded by thousands and thousands of men and women whom you find attractive and whose hormones are also raging? And when else can you get away with partying the night before a big exam without worrying about getting fired or showing up to a work meeting hungover?
Truth is, college is a blast on all cylinders and taking a year away from a full college experience might have you feeling some regret. The only part of graduating early I didn’t regret was paying for another year of tuition…
| 4. Someone will make it big. Unless you graduated from a small college or private school, someone, if not many people, are going to make it big one way or another. That nerdy girl you sat behind in English 312 is now writing for the LA Times. The guy from your fraternity who majored in finance? 2 months out of school he’s working for a Fortune 500. The kid who was really into politics? He’s in the State House of Representatives now. There are a lot of very talented people out there, and a lot of luck is floating around in a void. When the perfect tide of luck, talent, and hard work meet in conjunction, someone is going to catch a great break. It’s important to remember that everyone’s path is different and just because their opportunity seemed to fall out of the sky, it’s not a zero sum game. There are writers and artists, scholars and scientists, athletes and politicians who worked at a grocery store or a warehouse for years before getting to where they are today. Everyone knows the story of Super Bowl winner Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Cardinals who worked as a cashier at a grocery store just before going pro. No two roads are the same. With enough dedication, flexibility, and resilience, you might be the one to catch the break. |
5. One of your classmates will leave college making six figures.
Your Spanish Studies major isn’t looking too hot compared to the Finance major friend of yours making enough to buy a BMW a year after graduation. While you’re shopping the discount rack at an Outlet mall, your friend is checking out the newest Michael Kors fit to go with his sleek Rolex.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t let the space between your ears be filled with thoughts of feeling less important or like your life has less worth based on how much money you’re pulling in. Out of these 5 tips, this one is not only the most common, but the most damaging to your mindset. Remember how “keeping up with the Joneses” looked silly when your parents did it, and remind yourself not to fall under the jealousy trap.
In addition, do you really need all that stuff? Or do you need good people, family, self worth, and passion for your work? Would you rather have a shiny watch or a hobby you can be proud of?
When all is said and done, deep down your friend may be filling their life with meaningless items while you’re developing your hobbies and interests, which can provide much more value and long term sustainable happiness.
Your Spanish Studies major isn’t looking too hot compared to the Finance major friend of yours making enough to buy a BMW a year after graduation. While you’re shopping the discount rack at an Outlet mall, your friend is checking out the newest Michael Kors fit to go with his sleek Rolex.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t let the space between your ears be filled with thoughts of feeling less important or like your life has less worth based on how much money you’re pulling in. Out of these 5 tips, this one is not only the most common, but the most damaging to your mindset. Remember how “keeping up with the Joneses” looked silly when your parents did it, and remind yourself not to fall under the jealousy trap.
In addition, do you really need all that stuff? Or do you need good people, family, self worth, and passion for your work? Would you rather have a shiny watch or a hobby you can be proud of?
When all is said and done, deep down your friend may be filling their life with meaningless items while you’re developing your hobbies and interests, which can provide much more value and long term sustainable happiness.
If we as humans negotiated our self worth based on the lives of the people around us, we would feel terrible about ourselves. It isn’t healthy to compare your situation to others when the loudest voices are the people who are “ahead”. You never hear about the guy who took 5 or 6 years to finish college or the woman who stayed single until she was 30. The flashiest people have the loudest voices, and their lives are not the norm Furthermore, it isn’t rational to think you can’t attain the things you’re envious of. Instead of comparing yourself to others, use the time to track your own growth to get where you want to be. Comparison is the thief of joy, and self acceptance is the root of happiness. |
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12/8/2020 0 Comments
5 Options for College Graduates
You’ll go as far as your determination will take you. | |
For your entire life up to this point (assuming you recently graduated college), you’ve been riding a roller coaster on the same track as (most of) your peers. The roadmap looks completely familiar: Pre-K up to grade 12, then onto a two or four year school. Up to this point, young scholars haven’t been required to put immense thought into what they would be doing the following year because it was always the same answer: school.
Following graduation, everything changes. The endless questions of “so what are you going to do when you graduate?” finally comes to the forefront and you’ll be asking yourself the same thing. Only this time, post-graduation doesn’t feel like eons away, it feels like tomorrow. For some, it could be tomorrow.
Following graduation, everything changes. The endless questions of “so what are you going to do when you graduate?” finally comes to the forefront and you’ll be asking yourself the same thing. Only this time, post-graduation doesn’t feel like eons away, it feels like tomorrow. For some, it could be tomorrow.
So, what’s next?
Real life is next.
Real life is next.
Below are 5 well thought out ideas for college (or high school) graduates which are tried and proven. These are 100% legitimate options for fresh grads, and with a little bit of planning any one of these can be a worthy venture.
1. Get that 9-5 hustle started
The most common option for college graduates is to hop on the 9-5 train and ride those sweet, sweet paychecks into the sunset. Many university students move right from their part time college job into a full time position at the same company. Equally as common is students moving from their senior internships into their careers following graduation day.
For students who didn’t have anything lined up, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and hit the job boards. The easiest way (not the best) is to search local job boards or online job databases like ZipRecruiter or Indeed for entry level positions in your area of expertise. Of course, these positions don’t typically pay well, and negotiation for pay is much more difficult when hundreds of applicants are applying for the same position. It should also be noted that many of the jobs on online job boards end up being scams, so make sure you don’t give out personal information (or money) to a potential employer without doing your research.
A much better option than online job boards is searching through LinkedIn and connecting with people in your job field, forming relationships, and meeting with employers. While this option is more time consuming and doesn’t pay the bills immediately, with some time and planned networking it can turn into the most lucrative option.
For students who didn’t have anything lined up, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and hit the job boards. The easiest way (not the best) is to search local job boards or online job databases like ZipRecruiter or Indeed for entry level positions in your area of expertise. Of course, these positions don’t typically pay well, and negotiation for pay is much more difficult when hundreds of applicants are applying for the same position. It should also be noted that many of the jobs on online job boards end up being scams, so make sure you don’t give out personal information (or money) to a potential employer without doing your research.
A much better option than online job boards is searching through LinkedIn and connecting with people in your job field, forming relationships, and meeting with employers. While this option is more time consuming and doesn’t pay the bills immediately, with some time and planned networking it can turn into the most lucrative option.
2. Move to a new city/state
Listen, you’re 22, 23 years old and have the whole world in front of you. Lots of your peers are going to settle down in the same town where they went to college and spend the next 40 years until retirement in the same place. You don’t have to be one of those people. Your early 20’s is a time in your life when you have a healthy balance of low debt, low responsibilities, and high freedom. If there is a pipe dream city/state you’re looking to move to (looking at you NYC & LA), it might be smart to start over in the place you want to live and grow in long term. |
Truth is, once you get that decent salary, benefits, and a relationship partner, your life becomes much more stable and difficult to unhinge. No wonder why the term “mid-life crisis” is so common it has a term everyone can recognize. You have no real valuable belongings and no mortgage, so it might be time to pack your car, take whatever life savings you have, and hit the road to new beginnings.
(BONUS: find a friend who wants to do the same!)
(BONUS: find a friend who wants to do the same!)
3. Get out of the country!
This was my path. Immediately following college graduation I got on a plane to Thailand and spent the next two years teaching in a rural high school. You’d be surprised to find out how many programs there are around the world looking for English teachers, nurses, and volunteers. I could spend an entire article listing the benefits of living and teaching abroad for a few years. Being a stark contrast from what everyone else is doing also looks great on a resume. There are plenty of options when considering leaving the country post-graduation, all of which are great ways to clear your mind and leave you ready for your next challenge. You could choose a short-- two week trip to a place you've always wanted to go. Use that graduation gift money to book a flight to Iceland or Fiji with a friend. Or you could choose a longer venture, choosing to live and work in a country until you're ready to return home. Who knows, you may never come back! |
Remember, this is one of the only periods of time in your life where you have very little responsibilities and obligations to meet. Taking two — three years to find yourself in a foreign country will force a level of growth unlike anything you could experience in your hometown or a 9-5 job.
4. You don’t have to leave college… yet
For those of you aren’t ready to commit to a 9-5 job or maybe don’t love the job choices your undergrad degree has to offer, grad school may be a good option for you. Grad school, usually a two-four year commitment, allows you to pursue a specialty of your choice. While grad school can open doors for you down the road, it is also a major commitment both financially and as a use of time. If you think you can avoid burnout while pursuing a masters, it can drastically improve your chances of a well-paying career down the road. The hard part, of course, is avoiding the school burnout.
One option which can incorporate grad school without completely breaking the bank is to take night classes and pursue a masters part-time. Another option is finding a company that will pay for night classes as they are looking for well educated employees. Many law firms pay for their paralegals law school costs, and many schools pay for their teachers to take classes at a free or discounted rate.
One option which can incorporate grad school without completely breaking the bank is to take night classes and pursue a masters part-time. Another option is finding a company that will pay for night classes as they are looking for well educated employees. Many law firms pay for their paralegals law school costs, and many schools pay for their teachers to take classes at a free or discounted rate.
5. Move back home
Why is this commonly seen as a “lesser” option? In many cultures around the world, living with one’s parents until well into their 30’s is common and even looked upon in a positive manner. There are some cultures in Eastern Asia and the Pacific Islands where post-grads won’t move out of their parents house until their early to mid 30’s. While I don’t recommend staying that long (for your own sanity), it may not be a bad idea following college just to get your feet on the ground. If your parents are kind enough to let you live rent free, what is one year at home going to do in the long term? Working and living at home allows you to save every dollar, and with good budgeting you can save the majority of your income for the next step. |
This is an especially lucrative option for college grads looking to move somewhere and need a place to get their footing and save some money before the move. Combine a low cost of living with the comfort of home, free food, and (hopefully) a positive influence in your family, and the recipe for setting up your future is bright.
Once again, these are only 5 options out of a million following graduation day. Your life is what you make it, and to limit your ideas to match the career path of your peers is foolish. Why live someone else’s life when you can truly do what YOU want, with a little bit of planning and forward thinking?
You hold the reigns; where you steer them is up to you. What is your tentative plan following college? Leave a comment below !
You hold the reigns; where you steer them is up to you. What is your tentative plan following college? Leave a comment below !
12/3/2020 0 Comments
A recent graduate introduction
You’ve made it! Or so they tell you. All of that hard work in college will finally pay off. Remember those sleepless nights? Being buried in homework on a Sunday night? For some of us, balancing a part (or full!) time job on top of school on top of sports/hobbies? Mix all of the hard work with a new social surrounding, new friends, new relationships, and starting over in a new city, and what do you have? Four (or more) years you can be proud of and won’t forget for the rest of your life. All said, you deserve to bask in congratulations. |
This is the time to step back, reflect on the person you were before college and who you are now. This shouldn’t be an exercise in self-deprecation! The person you were four years ago barely knew how to press the “start” button on the dishwasher, and now you can cook boxed Penne Risotto and do the dishes just before your roommate comes home as to avoid an unwanted confrontation. The person you were four years ago could barely stomach a single beer, and now you can drink Natty Light from a beer bong off a flippin’ balcony. If you’re anything like me, you’ve learned a lot in the last four years, such as:
- How to live with a roommate (still doing that) -How to do laundry (still hate it) -How to sign up for financial aid (do I have to pay this back?) -How to make a grocery list and stick to it (but the Cheez-it’s are on sale…) -What a Tinder date gone wrong is like (…) -How to type a 10 page paper in 14 hours (English majors unite) -How to drink responsibly (or not) In reality, the reason why your time at university went so quickly was because you were becoming an adult and learning about all of the responsibilities that come with adulthood. You should feel good about how far you’ve come, but be aware that real life hasn’t started yet. Real life starts from the day you step off that stage with degree in hand. Real life starts with landing that first job, paying that first homeowners bill, or putting on a shiny new wedding ring. College was a time for youth exploration; the real growth is yet to come. | |
If you’re here reading this, you’re in one of three categories:
1. You’ve just finished college and are unsure where to go from here
2. You’re about to go to college and you’re wondering what to expect
3. You’re in college and you’re curious if you’re on the right track.
Luckily, the articles described in this website are compiled to give advice and answers to young adults in any of these categories. Without a doubt, there WILL be something here for you. The focus of this website is to provide young adults with testimonials from real people to help you feel less alone in this time of transition. Graduating college is a huge step, and I wish I was provided with more guidance before I made the jump into my career.
1. You’ve just finished college and are unsure where to go from here
2. You’re about to go to college and you’re wondering what to expect
3. You’re in college and you’re curious if you’re on the right track.
Luckily, the articles described in this website are compiled to give advice and answers to young adults in any of these categories. Without a doubt, there WILL be something here for you. The focus of this website is to provide young adults with testimonials from real people to help you feel less alone in this time of transition. Graduating college is a huge step, and I wish I was provided with more guidance before I made the jump into my career.
"The focus of this website is to provide young adults with testimonials from real people to help you feel less alone in this time of transition" | In the age of social media, it’s easy to forget how different everyone’s life path is. Surely some people from your hometown will post Instagram stories of them traveling the world, getting married, graduating early, having kids, and maybe even taking that SoundCloud music to the big stage and becoming a household name. Then you look at where you are. Scrolling through your feed on a Friday night in bed wondering why you’re not doing the same thing as your peers. |
Chances are, those people are only posting their highlights to make it seem like they’re living some glorious life vastly better than yours. Unless you’re the famous SoundCloud rapper, those people are faking it until they make it just as much as you are. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t add some of those highlights to your life. In fact, you should be taking the steps to add highlights to your life (even if you aren’t documenting them on social media) because graduating college is the first step to the kind of freedom you’ve been working toward for the last four years.
Once a degree is in hand, the real work will begin. It’s time. The practice rounds are over. The tutorial is off. Now is the time to put the communication and critical thinking skills you learned over the last four years to good use, because you’re only getting older.
But, how do I start?
Good question. Easiest way to start is to pull out a sheet of paper (you have plenty of leftover notebooks from Philosophy 101) and start making a list. Start with 10 things you want to do before 30. Let your dreams run wild. Don’t hold back and think about limits. Think BIG.
Once a degree is in hand, the real work will begin. It’s time. The practice rounds are over. The tutorial is off. Now is the time to put the communication and critical thinking skills you learned over the last four years to good use, because you’re only getting older.
But, how do I start?
Good question. Easiest way to start is to pull out a sheet of paper (you have plenty of leftover notebooks from Philosophy 101) and start making a list. Start with 10 things you want to do before 30. Let your dreams run wild. Don’t hold back and think about limits. Think BIG.
1. Start a business 2. Travel to 5 countries 3. Go to graduate school 4. Work my way up a company 5. Move to New York City 6. Save $20,000 7. Learn to invest 8. Get married 9. Publish Research 10. Win the lottery If you set your mind to it, you’ll be surprised how many of these things you can do before 25! If you have a minute, comment your list below. |
Naturally, people change their minds a lot. It’s time to tentatively pick one or two items on this list and begin formulating a plan for how to make it happen. This website is going to cover a wide array of options that young adults and recent grads may do when they’re ready to take that next step. We’ll cover simple things about being an adult like how to budget wisely and how to do your taxes with ease. This site will also cover bigger topics like ways to travel the world when you’re young and how to invest your first paycheck.
Growing up is tough, it’s really, truly difficult. You’re in the right place. Get the degree. Make the plan. Tune in to the next article where we discuss 10 very real options for the first year after graduating.
Leave a comment below if there is anything you’d like us to cover in future articles!
Growing up is tough, it’s really, truly difficult. You’re in the right place. Get the degree. Make the plan. Tune in to the next article where we discuss 10 very real options for the first year after graduating.
Leave a comment below if there is anything you’d like us to cover in future articles!