Things They Don’t Tell You About Life After College

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The Silence That Follows: Life After College

I woke up earlier than I needed to, but my roommates and I were determined to grab front-row seats at graduation. I remember being called to turn and look back at a camera in the distance. I got my degree. I got a few vinyl records as gifts. I got Dewey’s pizza. I celebrated. It was a good time, full of laughs, hugs, and a sense of finality. But once that weekend wrapped up? Boom. Silence. No more emails from my advisor. No more classes to register for. No campus events to look forward to. It got real quiet, real fast, and with that quiet came this strange feeling of being... alone. I went back home and sat with the weight of it all. Just like that, three years gone. (Sorry, COVID year, you don’t count. Kind of like that bubble ring the Lakers won in 2020. Kidding… sort of.) And then it hit me, I start work in a week.

Your Degree Doesn’t Hand You a Blueprint

Well, that’s it, right? I threw on the cap and gown, crossed the stage, and got my degree. story complete. Time to start my new job, pop some champagne, and ride off into the sunset. Not so fast. There was no celebration montage waiting for me. Instead, I realized: this summer is different. I’m not going back to school. No more academic safety net. Just... life. And with fewer distractions, more free time, and zero structure, I felt vulnerable. Spirals hit differently when you’ve got nowhere to be.

Sure, I got the degree, but no one told me it wouldn’t prepare me for this part of life. And don’t even get me started on high school, more hallway bullies than real prep for college or life after. Just saying. On top of all that, while I was lucky to land a job right after graduation, things changed by the end of 2024. I started looking for something new, and that’s when it hit me: the degree alone wasn’t enough anymore. I had to stack up certifications, revamp my entire resume, and basically rebuild my skillset just to give myself a puncher’s chance in a competitive market.

Success Gets Real Quiet

I took it personally at first. No one claps for you when you start your job search, commit to a new workout routine, rebuild your self-care, or pull yourself out of a depressive slump. There’s no trophy for trying. You learn quickly: the reward has to come from you. Being on the cusp of success isn’t the same as achieving it, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be proud of along the way.

There are days when I’ve felt like screaming, “I just want to feel myself, you want me to kill myself.” Heavy words, I know. Maybe one day I’ll break that down in its own post. But the point is: most people only see the outcome, not the effort. They don’t see the late nights, the personal growth, the laminated life templates I’ve created just to get through the week. Progress can be invisible. But I’ve learned that the more I grow, the hungrier I get. So when no one’s clapping, clap for yourself. When you’re doubting where you are, remind yourself: you’re not behind. You’re right on time, your time.

You Start Rewriting Your Definition of Fulfillment

What do you want? No seriously, what do you want? Not what your parents want when they start nudging you toward marriage. Not what your friends want when they want you out more. Not what your intrusive thoughts whisper at 2 a.m. Not even what your advisor, therapist, or siblings think is best. They can help you sort through things, but they can’t hand you the answer.

It’s like that Miles Morales leap-of-faith moment. You won’t know for sure when it’s time to become who you’re meant to be until you just go for it. You take the jump, make the mistake, write your own origin story.

For me, that means holding steady with my mental health, landing the full-time role, and gaining strength that sticks.

And then, when I get there, maybe I’ll finally get to that moment where the champagne’s cold, the pressure’s off, and I can finally rest my head against something soft... and just think, “Damn, I made it."

The Good News: You’re Still Becoming

I used to wonder if 2022–2023 was the best version of me. Was that my peak? Turns out, not even close. I’m wiser now, stronger, sharper. My bounce-back game is quicker. A bad day might still hit, but I won’t let it linger, not more than a day. The truth is, peaking isn’t something that just happens in a moment, because if you’re still showing up, still growing, still becoming… You haven’t peaked yet. Neither have I. Each new challenge I face is an opportunity to learn and evolve, pushing me beyond my previous limits. I’ve come to embrace the journey, understanding that growth is a continuous process rather than a destination. With every setback, I gain resilience, and with every success, I build confidence, propelling me further on this journey.

Links:

https://www.theravipatel.com/post/favorite-college-study-spots

https://www.theravipatel.com/post/freshman-year-college-lessons