The idea of life after graduation reminds me of the ending of a fairy tale. We assume it will be a “happily ever after” scenario. I think of it more as the beginning of the story. Where the characters go through trial and error, meet setbacks, and have to find their inner strength and power through to defeat the villain.

It is not so simple as going from graduation to a few weeks of job hunting to landing your first job. While it’s been difficult for me to find my footing, I can honestly say it’s still been a new learning experience for me.

Reflecting on that experience and my growth makes all the hardship worthwhile when I remember that I’m in a much better place (emotionally, at least) compared to my past self.

Today, I’m sharing some lessons I’ve learned as a graduate in the last year. Keeping these lessons with me, and reminding myself of them consistently, helps me to remain positive, motivated, and more sure of myself.

It’s okay not to have everything figured out

All this means is that you have unrealized potential, and it’s an opportunity to explore and learn more about yourself. You may go through many changes to become the person you want to be and find the things that give your life passion and meaning.

Speaking from my own experience, I went through so many phases. I entertained the idea of opening a bakery. Then, I wanted to be a librarian. After that, I wanted to be a full-time freelance writer. Now, I want to work on content or social media marketing.

See? It takes some time. And you take away valuable lessons and experiences along the way. So the best thing you can do for yourself is to remain open to new possibilities. You will find the spot marked “X” or the finish line of the game when it is time.

Moreover, in truth, no one has everything figured out in their lives. Behind the scenes, everyone has their own battles. We never see it because we seldom show behind-the-scenes to others.

We all filter and curate our online presence. The images we see are never the complete picture. And that’s okay. It’s up to each of us to remind ourselves not to focus too heavily on social media.

Pay more attention to what you’re doing

When you focus on other people’s progress, it leads to two things. It makes you feel doubt about your own progress. It also slows you down and distracts you. It’s a lot like those cooking shows that are always on TV (a weird analogy, I know).

Would you rather be the contestant who gets distracted, ruins their meal, and gets sent home OR the contestant who is focused, productive, and motivated to share something great, whether they win or not?

If you must compare yourself to someone, do so with your present self against your past self. There’s NO way you’re going to feel awful compared to yourself from months or even years ago.

This kind of comparison is more uplifting. You wind up paying more attention to how much you’ve grown, changed, and thrived since then. It does not distract you from your progress. It can only motivate you to be better and to be kinder to yourself.

Job hunting is strenuous and stressful

The cycle of filling out applications, occasionally going to interviews, and getting rejected seems to be a rite of passage when you’re a ‘new adult’. But it is a necessary evil. As much as getting rejected hurts, it can toughen you up. You learn, gradually, not to take it personally and to do better the next time.

And when it does hurt, you have to take a step back and give yourself a break. As someone who’s been job hunting for months during the Covid pandemic, I know the emotional and physical toll that job hunting can have on you when it is a large part of your day. Always practise self-care. The job you didn’t apply to today will still be there tomorrow.

It’s also important to remember that there are countless other opportunities there. Just because you didn’t get accepted for a role at one company doesn’t mean you won’t be considered for the same role at another company. Moreover, you have to remember that your worth is so much more than the 300 words you fit onto a piece of paper.