Ready.Set.Go

So I guess it's safe to say that nobody or nothing truly prepares you for the "next steps" following post graduation. Post grad life is such a weird time because it's like you have this paper that validates you marketable, but then you question how marketable. You put this pressure on yourself about the desire to have all your stuff together right after school, but quite frankly what if the stuff ain't together? Post-grad is a frustrating time because it's a period of so much thinking, self-discovering, reevaluating, praying, triumph, and tests. You're basically thrown into the world and required to figure it out. No handbook. No rules. No direction. Just YOU and FAITH. So how do you prepare for something so big in your life? You believe in your vision and you keep pushing forward!

Before and after post-grad life, figuring out your game plan is always essential. What are your dreams? What do you want to do? How are you about to put this degree to work? Planning makes the flow of things a little easier so you aren't walking into situations blindly. Prior to graduating in May of last year, I planned months before my actual graduation. I started looking for apartments and tons of jobs 2-3 months prior. Starting a little sooner helped me have an idea of a budget, and also gave me an idea of the home and work environment I was looking for. I was able to not feel so anxious or overwhelmed because things were written down step-by-step regarding my plans. I made phone calls, I asked questions, I did follow-ups, I sent my emails. I did what I needed to do because the PLAN wasn't to go back home.

One of the favorite things about post-grad life is knowing that YOUR PRICE JUST WENT UP! You now have the credentials and the degree that prove you liable to go from hourly to salary. This is the ultimate time to know and remember that if opportunity doesn't knock, you build the door. Get out of your own comfort zone by doing what feels right. Take a risk and try going to the city you said you never would, update the resume that you haven't revised, apply for the jobs that you may not qualify for, invest in your hustle, discover your interests, but most importantly, make mistakes! I am making them every single day, but what fun would learning be without a mistake?

We get so caught up in the idea of where were suppose to be and where we want to be, but the universe will not put you in places that you weren't ordained to be. Where you're at right now is the exact place you're suppose to be at this exact moment. Whether you're unsure of what's next, waiting to hear back from that employer, want to get away from your current situation, you're exactly where you need to be. Don't be so consumed on what's next and learn to live in the moment of now. It's okay to be unsure, it's okay to move back home until you get your finances together, it's okay to start small until something big happens. Don't feel discouraged from the uncertainty of tomorrow's success. Never rush your process before it happens.

Be prepared for all the things you'll learn about yourself. It's almost as if being out of school puts you into this "adulthood bubble" and you look at things slightly more different than you used to. Get to know these things that you start to learn about yourself and use them to come to terms with what you do/don't like. Try to often pay attention to the things that take away from your personal energy and peace. It's often not something which we all actually take the time to pay attention to however, something as small as that can determine the people, settings, circles, and environments which you decide to include yourself in. Protect your peace at all costs.

I wouldn't have been able to write this if I didn't even slightly understand what you may be going through post-grad. I say that to say this......whether your shit is somewhat together, or whether it's in the process of being put together, just know that although this may feel like one of the tough parts of your 20's, it's only hard because it's the part that is "intended" to mold the rest of your years. Take in stride that you are capable and very willing to become that "big deal". The only way is up.