Graduation is still two years away for me, yet the never ending questions about “what are you doing post-grad?” linger in my mind. If you’ve asked me this question multiple times, I’ve probably said a different answer each time. Maybe I say I want to move to New York City, maybe I say I want to work for Vogue, or maybe I say I want to become a lawyer. The truth is I really have no idea.
As I look to the world for guidance on what my life should look like after college, I’m bombarded by the thousands of TikTok influencers in their 20s navigating life. While many of these people’s main job is content creation, there are some who show a different side of their life: graduate school.
The first law school influencer I follow (literally how is this even a term) is Callie Wilson, @okcallie on TikTok. Callie’s catchphrase line is “with ease,” which is how she shows everything she does in her life. This past year she graduated from Brooklyn Law School and passed the Bar shortly after. With one million followers, she posts her daily walks for coffee, workouts, and going out. The videos of her studying are few and far between, making it seem like continuing education after college is a fun route.
Christina Stratton, a law student in Malibu, California, makes law school look like even more of a dream. She is the real life Elle Woods, wearing full pink jumpsuits to class and having a dog that can fit in her purse. Her TikTok, @christinastrat, has 400K followers and includes videos of her getting ready, going to law school prom, and even doing a semester abroad. With cute outfits and endless shopping, she makes law school seem just like Legally Blonde.
Although all of these influencers make the lifestyle of graduate education look fun, it doesn’t show parts of reality that are there. After going through four years of rigorous college academics, you are signing yourself up for more hours of lectures, studying, and exams. Postgrad education can be a necessary step for many majors or for certain careers, but for some it’s just a way to stay in your comfort zone by continuing to be a student. Even though these TikTokers’ are showing their real lives, it is only a highlight real. When the time comes to decide on graduate school, it’s important to make the choice based on what’s best for your career and not just what you see online.