"I Just Graduated, Now What?"

I heard something very interesting today and it got me thinking. Katherine Schwarzenegger gave an awesome interview on Kevin & Bean (and other news affiliates) about her book "I Just Graduated Now What".

Essentially she has found that many college graduates current and former struggled to figure out what they wanted in life for a few years after graduating, sometime up til their late 20's. Many moved back home and thought they were moving backwards when in reality that is the smartest financial plan you can have with this job market and ridiculous costs of education. She herself has said she moved home and worked jobs that weren't that great and is still trying to find that job she loves. Having a 5 year plan or 10 year plan sounds like a great idea, but how do you know your exact path when you can't even find where it starts. I would highly recommend you read her book o seek out additional interviews found online.

[At this point I will be paraphrasing advice given from Katherine and my professors mixed with my own thoughts and opinions]

So to everyone who is graduating and will be graduating - don't fret. We are all struggling to find out where we belong, who we are and what is next. Moving back home is NOT a step back, it is you crouching down waiting for that opportunity to jump. Holding part time jobs in the service industry is not a waste of your degree, it is a testament to your passion and eagerness to keep moving. Where you are now is not the 'end all-be all'. Give it some time, take a moment. You only feel like you are drowning because you are weighing yourself down. It takes a lifetime to build a dream - not 4 years and one week.  

For those of you like myself who had worked through college, it has taken us far longer than 4 years to earn that same degree. But goddam is it sweet. The blood, sweat and many tears have led you this far, have faith in yourself that you will make it. Attitude will carry you most of the way there.

So...what next?

• You are essentially networking every day. Every person you meet could potentially be your next hiring manager. You never know who it is you sit next to on the bus or serve at the Starbucks. Greeting strangers could be a godsend. I've seen it (and done it) firsthand.
• Build a life. Chasing your work dream is only half of your known life. Work on the other half while you wait. Do things your future self will be eternally grateful for. Strive to be better at time management, strive to be nicer to strangers (ties in to the previous bullet point), start up those projects you keep putting off - it could potentially lead to something bigger or greater than your original dreams.
• Got extra time on your hands? Work another job to save money for a house. Volunteer and give back to those who are worse off than you. Yes - you the graduating student who has 40k dollars of debt and a minimum wage job there IS someone worse off than you.
• Dude BE KIND to yourself. Need I say more here? In fact you probably have years to make up for.
• Enjoy the little things. Go on a hike with friends or get together and play a drinking game or board game. Whatever it is you and your friends do - do more of that. When life begins to take off, it is likely even more of your friends will drop out of your life. Not that neither of you cares anymore but you now have your own schedules, jobs, and families to tend to. Don't get to that stage in life to only find out you missed out on so much.

 Additional bullet points for you artists out there:

• Draw everyday.  No exceptions. This is something I struggle with myself.
• Start that side art project you've been wanting to do. "Did you see that new [insert website of your choice] post!? Its unreal. Wish I could do that". To hell with it - why can't you!? Just do it! Even if it's a massive fail, you as an artist know that every failure is full of rewards and lessons.

If all else fails: "Don't worry about life, you're not going to survive it anyway."

As for myself, I will be starting my first animation short film. I have a script in the works and a few other ideas tinkering around. I'd love to gather a team of artists who would like to start it up with me, something we can all share credit for and add to our portfolios. Leave me a comment or message if you are interested!

All the best to you guys and thanks for reading. You are amazing.

Neil