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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Wilfrid Laurier chapter.

Looking into the future can be scary. You might just want to crawl into a cave and hide from the daunting responsibilities that come after graduating. After all, graduates are supposed to be adults, right?

However many times you might try to convince yourself that you’ve got it “under control” while ignoring the stress around you, you’re not really facing reality. Life after graduation should be seen as an opportunity: an opportunity to challenge yourself, or maybe even to relax a bit after four dedicated years to hardcore academics.

Don’t lie to yourself that “adulting” will come easy or fast after graduation. It is important to recognize that everyone is at different stages in life, especially after university. People have different goals, motivations and aspirations in life. Don’t beat yourself up because you didn’t land a job right after graduation or that you didn’t get accepted to the post graduate program you wanted. Similarly, on the flip side, if you got that job or if you got into post-graduate studies, don’t be harsh on yourself for missing out on opportunities presented to others.

I think it is especially hard to look forward into the future while still in university because you are still comparing yourself to your peers. University conforms you to have the same expectations as everyone else around you; however, each student is an individual. Each student will accomplish different things in multiple different time frames.

Therefore, don’t look at your life after graduation while still comparing your life to your peers. Look at it with fresh eyes. Let YOUR passions and goals drive you.Springtime is especially a time of renewal and positivity. Apply a fresh outlook on your future and reap the benefits of shedding those feelings of jealousy, mediocracy and doubt. Use this season to kickstart an amazing outlook on graduation.

So wake up, smell the flowers and look forward to this new season in your life that is about to begin.

 

Dina Flinkert is a fourth year History and Medieval / Medievalism Major at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. She loves all things fall, Outlander, vine and cheese related. You can find her either in the library or where coffee is being served, or both. Follow her on Instagram @dinaflink
Madeline McInnis

Wilfrid Laurier '19

Madeline graduated from the BA+MA program at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2020. In her undergraduate degree, she majored in Film Studies and History with a specialization in film theory. She later completed her Master's of English degree, where she wrote her thesis on the construction of historical memory and realism in war films. If you're looking for a recommendation for a fountain pen or dotted notebook, she should be your first line of contact.