One year ago today, I graduated from undergrad! It’s so hard to believe that a year has flown by already, but upon reflection, I have seen that God has simply just been faithful. I designed my graduation cap with these words: “God is With Her,” and I can thankfully say that that has continuously been my testimony so far.
Within a year, I got a full time job upon graduation as a Government Relations Assistant, I went back to school for my Masters, and now I’m getting married! These accomplishments are all great things that I am grateful to God for, but I’m even more grateful for the woman I’m becoming and the woman I’ve grown to be in the last year. With 2022 being a double digit year, I decided to share two major lessons I’ve learned being one year out of college.
- Learn who you are outside of academia
Up until now, you’ve probably been in school since kindergarten and the majority of your life has revolved around being a student. Now that you’ve graduated, you probably have time on your hands that you’ve never had before. There are no more exams, no more classes to attend, no more emails to read from professors, you’re done! You’re embarking on a new journey of life outside of academics, so it’s important to now learn who you really are outside of the academic calendar. Ask yourself, “who am I outside of school? Use this time to learn that and be intentional about uncovering it.
In the last year, I’ve grown to see that I really love watching Disney shows and movies. Not because of the hype or name of Disney, but that’s really what I’m drawn towards when I get a moment of free time. With being in school and constantly having to work 24/7, I didn’t have much of an opportunity to watch tv shows or movies. Now that I do, I enjoy watching family-friendly ones.
- Be intentional about rest and self-care
If you do not choose when to rest, no one will choose it for you. Not your employer, not your parents, your rest is now completely up to you!
When I graduated and March came around, I saw that I longed to have spring break because that’s what I had grown used to most of my life. It felt so weird going through all of March and April and working my 9-5 without a week of break. I quickly realized that if I didn’t use my paid-time-off (PTO), then it would just sit there. So I had to learn when to take days off work, and really be off work because with everything being virtual, it was easy to find myself still working when I should have been off.
Lastly, be intentional about self-care. You cannot be you, if you do not take care of you. I’ve come to learn that if I do not prioritize self-care, then my body will dictate when my rest should be and it shouldn’t be that way. In the last year, I’ve gotten into the habit of prioritizing self-care every month and scheduling rest into my daily routine. It’s been so refreshing, and even though I’m back in school, I’ve found a way to still make it work with my schedule. Some days are better than others, but making progress is better than nothing.
Let me leave you with this scripture that blew my mind when I learned that it was in the Bible:
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13: So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
That’s all for now. If you’re a recent grad or alum, let me know in the comments lessons that you’ve learned since graduating from undergrad!
Since graduating college, the biggest lesson I have learned is, “do not give up.” After graduation, I started looking for jobs that interested me. Although it has been a long and arduous process, it has forced me to see my situation and God differently. Nothing that we go through is wasted and has a specific purpose for existing in our lives. Instead of allowing the job search to put a damper on my self-worth, I have chosen to have faith while putting in work and praying for myself and others struggling in this area of their life. I believe that God is birthing something new in all of us this year. So, to all of the recent graduates out there, I want to leave you with this verse that comes from Galatians 6:9, which states, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” No matter what may come your way during your post-grad life, know that God is with you, and He will make a way out of no way for you.
Wow amazing, thank you for sharing this Micaela! I love that scripture.