Advice for a Sad, Nostalgic Graduating College Senior
Graduating in two days. Moving to NYC to do IB post grad, but haven’t had the experience yet because I didn’t do a traditional internship and joined for FT.
I don’t regret anything, but only now that college is ending do I feel truly appreciative of my time here. It was so comfortable, so enjoyable. Before, when I would leave for break I would know exactly what was waiting for me when I got back, exactly what to look forward to. Now, the real world feels daunting and unclear.
I might think back to this moment and laugh, as I’ve done with transition periods in other phases of my life. Nonetheless, I guess I’m just looking for someone who has been in my shoes already to tell me it’ll be alright and that I have a lot to look forward to. Some people say High School is the best time of your life, others say college, others say your 20s, and so on.
What are things that have made your 20s > college? And what are things that I should expect to no longer have from college (that I may or may not have taken for granted)? Is there anything you wish you’d known when you were fresh out of college that you know now?
The transition from college to the real world can feel overwhelming, but based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s some advice and perspective to help you navigate this phase:
Things to Look Forward to in Your 20s:
Things You’ll Miss from College:
Advice for Navigating Post-Grad Life:
What You Should Know Now:
Remember, the transition might feel daunting now, but it’s also an exciting opportunity to grow, explore, and create a life you’re proud of. You’ve got this!
Sources: How I'll survive graduation and you will to, How I'll survive graduation and you will to, Really sad about growing up, Really sad about growing up, Why work the best years of our lives away?
Bump
I'll try a few things and maybe others will add. I'm at a transition period myself (becoming a father soon, early 30s) so reflected a bit on this recently.
1) Money. Such a lame answer, I know. But going from a student and budgeting everything, eating baked beans (I'm British so maybe there's an American corollorary) to working in IB and not really knowing how much money is in the bank account is life-changing in terms of day-to-day happiness, and unlocks experiences college students don't (for the most part) have (travel, dining, etc.) Make no mistake that some of my happiest memories were drinking bargain bucket wines around a wobbly kitchen table with friends, but you make new and interesting memories (and you realise that it is the friends, not the circumstances, that made those memories special - very cute, I know).
2) I cannot come up with a word for this, but maybe it's power. As a student, I always felt "on the bench" or "in training". In the working world, there is a certain pride / happiness from carving out your own success. A degree is a measure of success, but it isn't really worth anything by itself. Having a measure of influence and power and feeling that you're creating value for society is valuable in itself.
3) Relationships. I met my wife at university so this is kind of cheating. But over 10+ years we've both matured and shared so many experiences. For sure (if you're single) party and such while you're young, do think about a partner - it adds so much. One huge piece of advice here for relationships with friends (and girlfriend / boyfriend) is to be an organiser. After graduating, people get busy, and you lose touch. Be the guy / girl who organises trips, poker nights, dinners, outdoor activites, whatever. They'll love you for it, and you'll make a lot of cool memories.
4) Freedom. Corny way to summarise this. But at university there is this CONSTANT pressure to study, and this looming big event in the form of exams. Once working (and yes IB can be enromously time-consuming), there is a freedom insofar as once your work obligations are done, you are free to do whatever you want and not feel guilty. Obviously this sounds like a bit of a joke when I put it in an IB forum, but psychologically being able to externalise feeling bad about working is very nice, and I'd really struggle to go back to studying anything.
I see life as an adventure. I struggled at the thought of leaving university, but I tried to think of it as the next chapter in a long adventure. I wouldn't go back to high school once at university, and I wouldn't go back to university in my 20s. Hope the same is true going from to be a father versus 0 dependents, but I'll be able to answer that in a few years.
appreciate the insight
Adding to this, the first couple of months out of college will feel incredibly weird. Your world of the last 4 years has ended abruptly and without a real substitute. So let yourself mourn the change, and miss the times you had. But this comment I’m replying to is absolutely accurate, and your life really only gets better from here. I graduated last May, felt lost and sad waiting for my job to start, but once you’re on the desk, have a salary, and are in a new city, the world is really your oyster, and it’s awesome. Good luck! And remember to maintain your college friendships.
Great response - wanted to add that you should still make a concerted effort to meet new people and make new friends in whatever city you are in. It's always better to know a friend around a corner than to go at it alone, this can also help with parenting - congrats on that!
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Welcome to the human condition since the beginning of time. Everyone would rather be young again, but time stops for no man. Whatever you do, you don’t want to be the guy in his 40s hanging out at the college bars refusing to let the past go.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
needed to hear this, thank you
I'm 5 years out of undergrad and still miss it every day..
I loved college and had a great time. I like to think of adult life as simply different rather than better or worse. Biggest benefit as a working adult of course is having disposable income now and being able to buy things or go places with friends. But still I look back fondly on hanging out in the freshman dorm lounges at the same time. Hardest transition piece is the rigidity of a working schedule vs creating your own college class schedule and seeing your friends a lot less rather than living right next to most of them.
Any advice for someone entering college with the goal to leave and work in nyc high finance some day ?
Grind for your first two years, get an internship Soph Spring, then kick back, drink beer and talk to girls.
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