Where Do We Go from Here?
The second you step off the graduation stage with your diploma, your entire relationship with life changes.
People expect an almost unachievable output from fresh college graduates. The pressure is there early and often. You spend so much time in college forming an identity based on the things you achieve or don’t achieve, yet when you graduate, your growth slows and milestones become further and further apart. At times, you may feel as if you’re stuck at a standstill, trapped by anxiety, imposter syndrome, overwhelming workloads – the list goes on.
“Wait, hold up. I just got the degree. This thing still hasn’t left my hands, and I’m supposed to have all the details recorded on this template for my life?”
It’s a no for me, dawg.
One thing that remains true is that, although my day-to-day is different, my ability has only strengthened, not disappeared. Think about it like a job interview – the interviewer asks, “what skills do you possess that make you a good fit for this role?” You wouldn’t tell them your lack of experience in the industry renders you useless, would you? No, you would leverage every experience you’ve had – whether directly related or not – and skill you’ve gained to make yourself the best candidate you can be.
So let’s start doing that for our lives. Just because we don’t know exactly where to apply ourselves in the context of our new lives doesn’t mean we lack ability.
As a recent grad myself, I’ve been reflecting on the expression “comparison is the thief of joy.” The reason we doubt our ability is because when we’re at a difficult crossroads, we default to comparison. Or worse, comparison is forced upon us. Turns out, other people’s comparisons of you to the rest of the world are often the real thief of your joy.
So maybe the party is actually BYOJ (bring your own joy).
Disregarding others’ expectations of you sounds like a great New Year’s resolution – and we all know how well those go. It’s not something you write down on your whiteboard, and it is definitely not anything like those “Live, Laugh, Love” signs your mom has hung up in your house. It’s a mindset we have to practice and, occasionally, struggle through.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t let comparison in; just don’t let it overstay its welcome. Acknowledge it, then lean into your ability. Our ability is us. It’s what stays with us. If your ability isn’t as strong as you want it to be, or you don’t know what your ability is, don’t freak out – you’ve just got some other work to do.
Nurture your ability, discover your true source of joy, and let one fuel the other to reach your next chapter.
VICTOR CASTELLON
Victor is a TTS OG who studied digital marketing at LSU.