“What are your plans after graduation?” That’s the million dollar question every second-semester senior hears on a daily basis. If we could get a dollar for every time that question is asked, student loans would be paid off in full and then some! As g-day gets closer, we hear that question more and more often. For some people, it’s a relatively simple question to answer; for others, the first thought that comes to mind is “run away, NOW.” I fall with the latter—it’s difficult to think about what I want to do a few hours from now (besides finishing this heap of homework I have), let alone a few months from now.
In the midst of hearing back from graduate school programs and applying for 60+ jobs in the Chicago area (this isn’t an exaggeration), throw in balancing schoolwork and a social life on top of that hot mess. If that wasn’t difficult enough, the waiting period to actually receive an acceptance or rejection is torture. The anticipation for an answer sucks, absolutely sucks. Seeing others on Facebook post about getting into medical/grad schools, accepting incredible job opportunities, or taking a gap year to work/volunteer before applying to future schools when I have nothing to say for myself is hard; friends from home and high school are getting engaged, married, and/or having kids—in the meantime, I’m worried how I should go about finishing a burger and what episode of Gilmore Girls I should complete for the night. I see countdowns to graduation, meaning that the clock is ticking faster than I had anticipated. It feels as if I need to have made a decision by now and if I haven’t, I’m falling behind. So much to do, so little time…
I know I’m not the first to admit going into panic-mode about deciding what I’m doing in the next few months. I even broke down the other day at work talking to someone about my “plans,” or lack thereof for that matter—I didn’t mean to, but everything just spilled out of the accumulating feelings about my future. She hugged me and gave me her support (and a few tissues), telling me to keep my head up, stay strong, and pray. After she left, I threw myself into finishing the tasks on my list, focused on work and school. Once I was finished, I filled out a few more applications and explored opportunities outside of the Chicago area. Someone is bound to take my obnoxious self, but it’s just a matter of who and when I’ll find out, which is probably the worst part of it all; did I mention that anticipation sucks, especially for a someone who’s very impatient?
I thought about this a lot, taking the advice earlier in the day. I talked to my folks about how I was thinking and feeling (thanks, Mom & Dad, love you) and they told me the same thing—keep my head up, stay strong because you’re doing fine, and pray. So I did. I stopped sending out applications for the night, watched some Netflix, and took a mental break. I’m so caught up in preparing myself for the future that I’m forgetting how to enjoy the present. I’m doing everything I can to put my name out there, hoping that I get a phone call or an e-mail from someone other than Uncle Same saying “I WANT YOU” with a finger pointing at me. I just have to wait, that’s all.
I walked around campus the next day and sat down for a moment. I looked around and took in the scenery. No Belle was in sight and it was completely quiet. For the next couple of minutes, I thought about how incredibly grateful I am to be where I am right now. I have wonderful friends, a supportive family, and a loving community surrounding me constantly. The availability I currently have to go to Le Mans chapel and pray, thanking God for what I have and to keep guiding me in the future is something that most people can’t dream of. I have an amazing education preparing me for life after the g-word (still trying to brace myself for it). I have a ring on my finger that reminds me of everything that I experienced in three and a half short years. What else could I possibly want at this very moment?
There’s a saying that “good things come to those who wait.” For those who lack the patience gene, this is a particularly challenging phrase to live by. It’s difficult to play the waiting game with potential jobs and/or future education—I’m living proof of this. However, it’s important to remember what you have right in front of you. When you find yourself stressed about what your plans should be in the next couple of months, shift that focus on what you should do today. Hang out with some friends and talk while you’re eating pizza (or whatever food of choice is preferable). Walk over to any place on campus, a chapel or other rooms, or walk the mile to the grotto and pray. Take it one day at a time. Keep your head up, stay strong, and pray. It’ll happen when you least expect it—it could happen any day now. I promise you, someone will look at your application, give you a call, and say “do you have any plans to talk today?”