“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I am pretty sure you’ve answered this question countless times when you were still in your first grade. Your answers may have changed over time due to several factors, but now, you’ve just reached the point wherein you’ve lived the response you made a few years back.

Back when you were just thinking and having a countdown about throwing those piles of paperwork, tossing your grad cap, and getting that hard-earned diploma on stage, your heart did happy somersaults. But now that the countdown went to zero, you tend to ask yourself, “What now?”

And even before taking that graduation cap and toga from your body, you’ll start hearing annoying questions. What’s your plan after this? When will you start applying for a work? Are you happy with the career you’ve chosen? And then you’ll realize that you have to start a new phase of adulthood while discovering the following things that no one ever told you after getting that degree:

You can’t use all those theories at work

I remember one of my college instructors saying, “All of these are just preparations for your board exam. Only a few of them will be applied to your future work”. Indeed, not all of the subjects that you have taken will be applied in the career you’ve chosen. I believe most all of us find it hard deriving, integrating calculus equations, and solving differential equations only to find out that they are insignificant in the real world, well, except if you’re interested in knowing the bacterial growth clouding over your messy office table. Perhaps, we just have to undergo such tough courses in order to exercise our critical and logical thinking to equip us mentally for the real world.

Finishing a degree does not guarantee that you will get that dream job, or at least, even get a job

Finally, you did it! And now, you’re officially jobless. With thousands of degree holders with the same field as yours, it will surely be a tough competition, not to mention those experienced folks to race with. For now, all you can do is to make your resume as appealing as possible. Just be sure to make some revisions from that curriculum vitae template that you have just downloaded from Google.

You will encounter a quarter-life crisis, but it’s completely okay.

Is this what I really want? What the heck was I thinking when I pursued this degree? Maybe if I took the other course, I would become as successful as my high school buddy right now. These are the common statements you’ll hear not only from your inner self but also from your friends and colleagues. Who knows, the one that you’re envious of is undergoing the same phase as you as well. Just take it easy while making new friends, meeting new people, and learning from your superiors. Eventually, you’ll find your purpose and the work that will make yourself fulfilled.

At some point, you’ll realize that you have to achieve something to meet the expectations of your family, friends, and the society. And it is pretty normal to feel such thing for you’ve just spent more than two decades to prepare yourself for this moment. However, the corporate world is far different from what you’ve experienced from that academic four-cornered walls. This time, no one will rate you a failing grade just in case you’ve missed things out. For now, you just have to enjoy the moment and let the future take care of itself, for you will eventually land a job that will keep you busy for the rest of your life.

GIF Sources:

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