Life After College

After graduating from college, I felt lost. And I don't mean the, “I need to pull up maps in my car without service” lost. I mean what the hell am I going to do with my life lost. And yeah, that's a pretty broad statement I’m aware. But we have all thought that before. Honestly (without going all hippy on you) does college really prepare you for the life after college? A majority of us go to college between 17 and 18 with one goal. Well, one main goal after the whole partying, sports, and friends’ goal. The main goal, or should I say the 4 main goals are to get an education, find a job, make money, and make our families proud, right? After all-nighters writing papers that we will forget about in a week, a bunch of crying, being broke as hell and missing our homes, we finally make it to graduation. Was is easy? hell no. Did we make it through? hell yeah. So finally, the day we have been waiting for… Graduation day. But all of a sudden that's not what I want at all. I’m not ready to leave my best friends. I’m not ready to stop binge drinking every night and eating Cumbies pizza.  I am sure as hell not ready to move back home or start a real job with real responsibilities. The first few days after graduating weren’t terrible. It was probably extremely beneficial for my health to drink something besides a vodka soda and get more than a few hours of sleep. So yeah, a week goes by… then a month. Before I knew it I was stuck in this “grownup” world with no money and daily reminders about student loans that I have no idea how I am going to payoff. That's where I fall on this very day. Stuck.

I don't have my best friends living with me for comic relief when I need a laugh or to eat McDonalds with when I’m pissed because I didn't get a text back from a boy I’m crushing on. I’m still living with my parents at age 23. Not to mention that I went to school for a degree I know longer want to use. Pissed and disappointed are light words to describe how I feel. It took me a breakup, discovering who my real friends are, and a million mistakes, to realize that everything is going to be okay. I know you’re probably thinking “what the hell, Britt,” you just discussed so many negative and shitty things…why are you saying everything is going to be okay? But honestly, everything is going to be okay. For me and for you who are reading this, whether you can relate or not.

 I want to state that no one should tell anyone how to live his or her life. The pressure to go to school and get a job right after is bullshit… In my eyes at least. We ask ourselves "What if that's not what I want to do?" "Will my parents still be proud of me?" "Will the family friends who ask what I’m doing next think less of me?" Those were the constant thoughts that would circulate my mind day in and day out. But here is a little secret. This is my life, and no one can live it for me. And to find my purest happiness I decided to stop trying to please others and finally please myself. Yes, I still have goals and milestones that I want to accomplish but my life is going at my own pace. Being a person who used to be concerned about others’ judgment, I cannot even explain how free it feels to let go and only worry about what makes me happy. And yes, I know that sounds corny as hell but I’m a pretty corny person... sorry, not sorry. The matter of the fact is, true supporters won’t judge you regardless, and they will stand by your side with your decisions. Everyone has a different story and that’s okay. You are going to wake up tomorrow and it’s going to be a brand-new start to the day. It’s time to stop putting so much pressure on yourself and enjoy the little things around you. I think in our society so much negativity surrounds us because of our mindsets, not necessarily because there is more negativity than positivity. Prime example: I didn't get into the nursing school I wanted to. UPSET was an understatement. Did I want to give up and curl in a ball? Absolutely. But instead of focusing on the negativity I decided that maybe that wasn't the school for me, maybe I’m supposed to take a different path. Listen, life gets complicated and it can suck sometimes, I know that, but it only takes a switch of a mindset to realize the good in your life. And I am not saying I have my life together because I am the furthest from that right now. But what I do have, and I genuinely cherish is my happiness. After 23 years of depression and hate, I have decided to live a happy life. It’s okay to get down sometimes but then move on and smile because everything is going to be okay.

Some of the simple guidelines I have followed to find my happiness:

1.     Make time each day to do something that makes you smile

2.     Make your own decisions

3.     Stop putting so much pressure on yourself

4.     Just breathe

5.     People are going to judge you regardless so do what makes you happy

Moral of the story is… don't be so hard on yourself. Everyone is facing different challenges after college or even challenges without going to college. However, we will all make it through. Take a step back and live the life you want.

                                                                                                            Xo- Britt