It’s that time of year again. Summer is right around the corner and with it, freedom from many things that tend to stress students out, whether it be midterms, chemistry labs, or even not remembering if The Grill is open on Friday or not (just a heads up, it’s not). For some, the heavy weight of school is being lifted off their shoulders, but for others, myself included, a new weight is replacing the old one.
If you are graduating this spring and you have a plan as to what you want to do once you walk across that stage, that is awesome, I am cheering for you! However, if you have absolutely no clue as to what you want to do with your career now that you have a degree, take a breath, you are not alone.
If you’re reading this and thinking “Okay, I don’t have a plan, so it’d be cool if you could help me out a little.”, have no fear, help is on its way. There are many different steps you can take to figure out where you want to go with your post-college plan. You can go see someone in the Career Services office here on campus, or even talk to one of your advisors/instructors. You should also begin looking for a type of mentor to look toward for your career.
The next thing you need to take into consideration is whether or not you are going to be moving back home or renting an apartment. If you are renting an apartment, do you need to find a roommate? Creating a budget would be a good thing to do also, so that surprise expenses don’t jump up in your face.
Are you getting a job or going straight into graduate school? If you’re going into graduate school, you need to make sure you have everything lined out so that the transfer is smooth. Do you have student loans that need paid off? Most student loans begin repayment six months after graduation. You want to be prepared to begin making payments when they are due. Never ignore correspondence from your student loan servicer because you could miss important information and payment deadlines.
I know that it seems like quite a bit to take in, and you probably feel like the world is closing in around you, but keep in mind that you are not alone. You are graduating with an associate’s degree, and I know the amount of blood, sweat, and (many) tears it took in order to obtain it. Don’t forget, to celebrate your accomplishment, even when you’re preparing for the next stepping stone in your journey. Just think, you’re now one degree hotter! (Pun intended)
PS: For all of you upcoming sophomores; this little post script is for you. You have made it to your second year here at Crowder College, and I bet that rush of excitement you had your first semester about being in college is finally starting to wear off. Don’t worry, it happens. However, this is not an excuse to slack and become discouraged because this next year is going to be crucial for whenever it’s your turn to graduate and/or transfer. The advice in the above paragraphs apply to you also.
With all of this being said, I will close with this: My two years at Crowder College have been rough at times, but I am glad that I made the decision to stick it out. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, and instructors; one in particular being Mrs. Latonia Bailey. I’d like to formally thank you, Mrs. B for being there for all of your journalism students, supporting us, feeding us, and making our brief time in the newsroom memorable. We couldn’t have done it without you.
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