Hate To Break It To You But Life After College Is Hard For Everyone

By

College – the best four years of your life. Or at least that’s how the saying goes. College is suppose to be the time you find yourself, you establish yourself, you decide what you want to be when you grow up. You figure out how you are going to leave your legacy in this world, what you are going to be remembered for.

Or at least that’s what you’re expected to do.

For most of us, college was a blur of class, studying, parties, bars, sporting events, and spring break. Yes we went to class; yes we worked our asses off to earn our degrees. Senior year we networked and applied exponentially to any job that seemed relatively interesting with some sort of relevancy to our major.

Once we landed our ~*dream*~ job we were happy. We began planning our next step in life. No more college, no more tests and studying. We were finally going to be adults. We were going to make something of ourselves. Everyone around you was so excited for you.

“Congratulations, you did it.”
“Wow, good for you!”
“You’re going to love being an adult.”

Ah, all the excitement. What that didn’t tell you about life after college?

What they didn’t tell you was that life after college was going to be hard as f*ck.

Life after college isn’t all that you expect it to be. You’re not going to magically get your shit together. You’re not going to all the sudden go to a casual happy hour and bump into the love of your life. You’re not going to become instant best friends with your coworkers, honestly best of luck having a coworker close to your age. Your life isn’t going to be like the movies and books. Sorry to burst your bubble, to be the Johnny rain cloud on your parade, but it’s the truth and someone has to let you know.

Life after college is hard. Meeting friends? Dear Lord how did kindergarten me make friends so easily?! How does one start a friendship? What do I do with my hands?! Paying bills. Why, why did no one tell me that life was so expensive? Why didn’t anyone tell me that it would be a constant debate of do I want dinner or a beer tonight? Do I want to make rent or do I want those new jeans? Damn it, I want both. Meeting a significant other in the real world? HA, that’s laughable. Modern dating has made meeting someone serious nearly impossible. ~*Thanks so much texting and social media, love you mean it*~.

Life after college is going to be harder that class ever was. It is going to be lonely; it is going to take some adjusting. You go from living with your best friend to a small one-bedroom apartment in a new city. It is going to be stressful; learn to love list making. Your to-do list is going to grow and grow and grow, It will feel like work doesn’t quit, chores never end, and bills are always due. It is going to be depressing; it is going to college your mental stability. You are going to wonder if you are on the right path, if you made the right decision. You are going to wonder if you are relevant, if anyone even cares how you feel or how you’re doing.

Like I said, it’s going to be hard. But, just know, it’ll be worth it.

One day you’re going to wake up, and everything is going to feel okay. You’re going to start to enjoy your job and feel like you know what you’re doing. You’re going to understand what a budget is, and slowly (very slowly) figure out how to stick to it. You’re going to start making friends in your new city; you won’t feel as alone. Slowly but surely you will start to feel like you’re life is coming together.

But until then, know you’re not alone. Know you’re going to be okay. And most importantly know, the best is yet to come.