Graduation blues can hit anyone. Seniors have almost completed a huge milestone in their lives but sometimes just aren’t that excited. Their exact post-graduation plan could be in place, but chances are many students feel the same way. However, there are certainly things that can be done to ease the tension for anxious seniors.
First off, start small. If you bite off more than you can chew and try to plan everything out, you might find yourself overwhelmed and even disappointed if things don’t pan out like you had planned. One suggestion is to take a few minutes and sketch some sort of “game plan.” In a posting on GoAskAlice.com, an article commenting on graduation anxieties said, “Any time someone has to undergo a drastic change in their life, a certain amount of anxiety is present. This is why the old adage ‘no one ever said that change is easy’ exists.”
“The good news is that you are aware of your fear of leaving college and have formulated a plan for what you want to do when you graduate. With this preliminary map of your future you are already way ahead of the game, as many of your peers most likely have not put in the same amount of thought about their futures that you have.” By having some sort of idea of your plans you can lessen the tension because you have a direction, but still maintain flexibility in understanding everything may not go according to plan.
Another reason to quit stressing is that graduation itself is supposed to be a happy time. Don’t let the fear of the future overshadow completely a major accomplishment. Don’t let fear of the future evolve into fear of graduation because the future and graduation are two separate entities. GoAskAlice.com said, “Just keep in mind that your fear is not about the act of graduating itself, it is based on your perception about what you are supposed to do after you walk across that stage and receive your diploma.” This is an extremely valid point. Someone may regret having a lot of anxiety during graduation if they miss out on the joy and sense of fulfillment it comes with.
Let’s face it: essentially, no matter what anyone tells you, you have the rest of your life to decide what you want to do with your life. There are plenty of adults who are constantly change their career paths because they want to do something different. What you do at 22 or 23 may seem miniscule when you look back on your life. So go out in your cap and gown and enjoy the day! Congrats class of 2010!