Graduated and Moving On

I graduated.

Let me say that again.

Graduated.

I am a college graduate from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. I am a Creative Writing major with an Economic minor. I moved into a new area and have an almost empty apartment. (I'm still waiting for furniture to be delivered.) And I am currently unemployed.

The tale rings familiar for many college graduates at this time. Some, like my boyfriend, landed jobs before graduation and have started the next chapter of their lives - comfortable and excited to hold a good paycheck in their hands. I see others like me are doing one of three things. 1) Many of my colleagues deliberately took time off. They are traveling, enjoying family, or partying through what may be the last summer of freedom. 2) Others are doing one thing - Applications. More applications. Waiting for the phone. Applications. Applications. Or 3) Waiting for graduate school.

I fit under number 2 and I know many of you do too. The thought of not working with student debt so close behind is terrifying. For those who do not know, Financial Aid provides loans and have grace periods after graduation. Thank God! While some graduates may say, "Oh we have several months to find a job! Why stress," I think the young economist in me hates this situation. For the past couple weeks, I searched and have applied to many job opportunities. I want to clear my debt as fast as possible. I want to help my family and start my own. I want to enjoy some new pleasures, like affording grapes, going to a concert, some weekend traveling, NEW CLOTHES, and just letting myself be a little more pampered. I am a first generation, low income student. I am the first of my siblings to graduate college. I have more "firsts" to make. With this mentality, I fought to keep myself as independent from my parents as possible during the past four years and part of high school. This involved discipline, part time work, and budgeting. I have not given myself many luxuries. Ask my friends. Most of my clothes are from high school. I just replaced my winter jacket of about ten years because the zipper exploded. I have little make-up and most of it was gifts. I still want to fight and make a living for myself. I want to make my parents proud and not let my friends worry. The thought of having a job, a real job, makes the hard work feel so validating... now I just have to get that job.


The search, edits of resume and cover letters, and the emails do not bother me, but I am starting to suffer. While I know I am okay and these emotions are normal, I am scared. And the waiting is the worst part of the whole process. Apply, wait, follow up email, wait, get told they are still reviewing, wait. The wait will drive you crazy. It makes you feel powerless, because you are. You have no say at this point and are at the mercy of an HR department. College graduates of 2014 do not give up. We are the future and we will make it. All good things come in time. It is almost our time.


Are you suffering from graduate blues? I stay busy with exercising, reading, budgeting, and of course writing. Writing is a great therapeutic action for many people, myself included. Comment below if you are worried and what tactics you are doing/might do to help with the wait.


P.S. Sorry for the wait on a post! Obviously, this was a busy time for me and I had about two weeks without any internet access. More posts will be published soon!