Navigating the Post-College World

Navigating the Post-College World Navigating the Post-College WorldThis is a guest deutsche bundespost by Kirsten Andersonfor Student Stories.Its April 2013 and I am eagerly awaiting my graduation ceremony on the 18th. Things will be different I will no longer be a student slaving away at assignments and can finally do what I want to do achieve goals that I sacrificed in order to attain a college degree I cannotlage wait to be finished.Fast forward a few months and Im wishing I were still a student. Trading my Spring Breaks and three-day-a-week class schedule for working full-time at a coffee shop was not my idea of post-graduation life. To say the least, post-graduation life was not what I expected. Thats not to say that graduating wasnt what I wanted I just had different expectations.Most students expect to get a salaried job worthy of a four-year degree. But in the current circumstances of this country, that isnt always the case. In fact, I found myself working with high schooler s and people who had never gone to college when I first graduated and began working at a coffee shop. As much as I can complain about not landing my dream job straight out of college, these smaller jobs have allowed me to start thinking about where I want to go and what I would like to do.In fact, in the past year I have managed to buy a car and save money while still making time for myself. In saying that, I have learned that the importance of having a work-life balance could not be more prominent in keeping ones sanity. Although I work 40 hours a week, I have not only starred as a supporting role in a play, but have managed to spend a week in the mountains skiing with my dad and brother, and spent time with friends on a regular basis.While many of us graduate and are dissatisfied with our first post-college jobs, I truly believe that these jobs are an important part of our journey to not only gain experience for our future careers, but to find out who we are as a person. For insta nce, I have learned that banking is probably not in my future, and this has challenged me to think about what I would really like to pursue. On the other hand, being a teller has allowed me to save and manage my money in a responsible way. In saying this, I encourage you to look at these jobs as stepping-stones for your goals, dreams, and aspirations learning opportunities for future endeavors rather than disappointments.So my tips to you areCreate a list of goals and a timeline to accomplish them.Look for opportunities to learn in the jobs leading up to your career.Create a work-life balance by pursuing a hobby or passion (ie photography, baking, writing, etc.).Network talk to everyone you encounter a lot of times people get jobs through connections.Dont give up just because you arent where you expected to be after college, doesnt mean you wont get there be patient.About the AuthorKirsten Andersonis a 22-year-old graduate from Macquarie University in Australia where she original ly went on exchange and later transferred to after falling in love with the country. After graduating she has been both a barista and a teller while saving money to move to Atlanta, Georgia where she would like to pursue a career in film/television. She enjoys travelling, warm weather, playing tennis, and spending time with friends and family.