In all my planning, I never imagined turning a tassel from the right to the left would be accompanied by copious amounts of pressure and doubt. In one simple movement, I was supposed to go from a student just trying to finish assignments and ace exams to a businesswoman with a liveable salary.
Thanks to my five-year plan, the transition from college to the real world seemed well-mapped. But what happens when that plan starts to fall behind schedule and taunts you with uncertainty?
As students, we are conditioned to believe that success follows a linear path — graduate, land your dream job, climb the career ladder and achieve your dreams. As a naive student with a touch of narcissism, I crafted my five-year plan using that same outline. As it turns out, I am already behind schedule.
In the age of social media, it’s all too easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves with others. Whenever I scroll through LinkedIn, I see tons of posts about classmates landing awesome internships or starting their dream job. Even though I know their success doesn’t necessarily mean my failure, it still makes me wonder if I’ll ever find a job that pays enough to make ends meet.
As graduation looms with no job secured, I figured it was time to give up the ghost and create a new, hopefully attainable, plan. But for people like me, [the hyperfixators] of the world, it’s hard to accept a version of your life that you didn’t romanticize at 2 a.m. So I started making a new plan with some elements of the last but soon realized just how flammable a constructed five-year plan is.
One second, I accepted the realization that I would graduate with no job lined up, and the next, I threw my plan away because of nine magical words: We would love to schedule an interview with you. All the planning and self-realization I did went straight out the window.
But before I get ahead of myself and truly live in la la land, I made a new five-year plan if that job decides to follow my planning and self-realization out the window.
Your first year post-grad should not be characterized by pressure but by exploration. I think many of us are realizing that we will not land our dream job out of college, or any job for that matter, and that’s ok. Take this first year to explore your interests, dabble in different industries and figure out what truly excites you.
Year two is all about hustling and grinding to make ends meet. Take any job that comes your way — yes, even the odd ones — whether it’s freelance writing, dog walking or working in the nightmare that is retail. This is a year for you to work hard so your bank account doesn’t have to.
After two years of trial and error, you will most likely have gained some life experience and amusing stories. Now is the time to reflect, recharge and maybe even pursue further education if that’s in your wheelhouse. Whether you’re backpacking through Europe in search of spiritual enlightenment or mastering the art of making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, use year three to invest in yourself.
When you think you have everything figured out, year four may throw a curveball. Embrace the unexpected and roll with whatever comes your way. Who knows? You might stumble upon your dream job while waiting for an overpriced latte.
With five years under your belt, you have gained a wealth of experience and maybe even a few gray hairs as proof of your hard work. Now is the time to seize the moment and take the world by storm. Whether you are launching your own startup, climbing the corporate ladder or embarking on a new adventure in a different country, let the excitement of year five fill you with confidence, determination and a healthy dose of narcissism.
So there it is — the ultimate five-year plan for post-grad success. Is it unconventional? Absolutely. Is it foolproof? Probably not. But, at least it’s a plan that could make for a good story one day.
Use this five-year plan, but don’t cling to it. Embrace the unknown and let go of control. After all, some of the greatest adventures begin with a single step into the unknown.
So, as I prepare to embark on this post-grad chapter of my life, I choose to release the pressure to have it all figured out. I may not have a job secured yet, and the future may seem uncertain, but that only adds to the excitement of what is to come.
Who knows what opportunities await me just beyond the horizon of my graduation cap?
Calie Wrona is a senior at UT this year studying journalism and media. She can be reached at [email protected].
Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.
