Life After Graduation: 3 Lessons I Learned
Graduating from a higher institution is no small task. The journey requires perseverance and sacrifice, from late-night or early-morning study sessions to actively participating in class when all you can think about is your bed.
Let’s not forget the brave face we put on while attending networking events, trying to create lasting connections for future employment. It’s a lot to handle. But crossing that stage, receiving your diploma, makes it all worthwhile. Graduating from college is a significant achievement that demands determination and discipline, and it’s something I’m immensely proud of.
Not everyone who starts the journey sees it through. I’m incredibly grateful to God for His favor and for sharing the insight to make use of the help along the way. But after graduation, I began reflecting on a few important questions:
- Am I now qualified to walk through life with an arrogant mindset because my diploma proves my knowledge in a particular area?
The answer to that is certainly not! While reflecting on these questions, I realized there were still many aspects of my personal development that needed attention. In this blog post, I want to share three key lessons I’ve learned after graduation.
1. Learning is an Ongoing Process
Graduating from college is a huge milestone, but it doesn’t mean that learning stops there. If your family or friends try to undermine your achievement, it may be time to reevaluate those relationships.
During quarantine, I explored into personal development topics and biblical stories. I uncovered how childhood trauma affected me and took steps to heal, including finding a therapist and watching videos on family estrangement.
Through this journey, I learned about communication, recognizing manipulative tactics, and setting boundaries. I learned the importance of showing up for myself and how to prepare for life’s challenges despite the discouragement from others. In studying Moses’ story from the Bible, I discovered how vital it is to embrace the gifts God has given me to help myself and others.
I also learned how to invest in stocks through Cash App and, most importantly, how to prioritize myself. Seasons change, and so do we. At 22 or 23, it’s okay not to know everything. Admitting that gives you room to grow.
I continue to embrace learning because I don’t want to remain ignorant or narrow-minded. Learning keeps us moving forward, evolving, and it’s something that never truly ends.
2. Survival vs. Long-Term Thinking
In college, survival mode is a necessity. You’re trying to get through the next week, the next semester, and the next year. We all threw ourselves into the student grind, surviving exams, tight budgets, and endless deadlines.
But after graduation, things shifted. I started thinking long-term:
- How do I set up a Roth IRA?
I had to change my mindset from short-term survival to actions that would benefit me in the long run. While I’m grateful for the habits I developed as a student, now I’m focused on practices that will pay off in the future. The dance to examine is between living in the moment and planning for tomorrow’s rewards.
3. No One is Coming to Save You
This lesson was perhaps the most powerful. I heard it in a TED Talk by Mrs. Mellody Hobson, where she said, “The moment you stop looking around and thinking someone is coming to save you is when you realize it’s up to you to chase your dreams and goals.”
Those words stuck with me. I realized that no one—not Prince Charming, not your siblings, not your favorite influencer, and not even your parents—will magically make your dreams come true. Everyone has their own baggage. I had to come to terms with this in my own life, with divorced parents and unreliable family support. But here I am, still pushing forward.
God uses life’s challenges to make us stronger. And sometimes, this means making tough decisions—like saying no to social events and parties because you have dreams and a purpose to fulfill.
It’s important to set boundaries, choose yourself, and make sure you’re not overextending yourself for others. I’ve learned the importance of preserving my energy to focus on my goals. When I do spend time with others, it’s on my terms, not out of obligation.
Finally, it’s important to remember that not everyone needs to know your business. Most people don’t care, and others just want to give unsolicited advice. Keep your plans and goals close to your chest and let your success speak for itself.
Conclusion
These are three lessons that I’ve learned after college, and I hope they resonate with you. Remember, learning is a lifelong process, think long-term, and take charge of your own future because no one else will. I’ll leave these thoughts here for now, but there are two more lessons I want to share in a future blog post. Writing this down has been incredibly helpful for me, and I hope it offers you some inspiration, too. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to the newsletter for more insights!
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