Congrats, new grads! You made it. You just walked across that big stage, and got that shiny new diploma. (Go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back.) I bet you are on top of the world right now. Filled with excitement and the desire to achieve great things.
You likely heard some rendition of this speech at your graduation ceremony. It goes a little something like this, “You have accomplished a ton already. Be proud of yourself. But, now we have to move on to the next chapter of our lives. Take everything that you have learned already in stride and be prepared to work hard. Success will then follow.”
Maybe, I’m a jaded mid-twenty-something. But, I feel like college commencement ceremonies should also give a few warnings and let’s just say real-life advice amidst all the unicorns, puppies and double rainbows.
For the first 18-22 years of our lives, we had a general plan set in front of us. For most of us, our parents helped shaped that plan. It looked something like this, “get good grades, make lots of good friends, do well on the SATs, graduate high school, get into college, do well in college, and then graduate.
But what’s next? After you graduate college, that life plan disappears. The sky’s the limit. It’s up to you decide what you want to do with the next 50-80 years of your life.
Life doesn’t come with a textbook and step-by-step instructions. There’s no essays, quizzes and final exams. It’s up to you to figure out what you want to do next. Then experiment OFTEN. Take calculated risks. Change up your daily routine. Set goals. Adjust. Move to a new city. Make mistakes. Go ahead and just FAIL.
Here’s a dirty little secret. You will never learn anything new if you only take the “safe, straight and narrow path.” Not to mention, it’s kind of boring. Go ahead and take a chance every once in awhile. Who knows, you may fail? Guess what, it happens to all of us. (Whether we choose to admit it or not.) I can guarantee you will learn more from the mistakes and the downright failures, than any experiences that went perfectly the first time.
Failure isn’t really the end of the world (like we portrayed it to be when we failed a test in middle school). Instead, embrace the mistakes and realize it will only help you discover your true calling.
So that’s my advice. What’s one piece of advice you would share with new grads?
Listen a lot! You don’t know more than everyone else that’s been working there for forever. #ilearnedthehardway
@emilymoorehead So true. A great piece of advice.
Find a professional mentor. If you don’t have one, start asking a professional in the field you want to pursue a career in for advice. Your mentor will be able to help you sidestep pitfalls and guide you in how to best develop your career.
@Chris McNamara Great advice, Chris!
I try to remember that if one path doesn’t work, it’s never too late to try another, despite how much it sucks if you end up going around in a circle. It’s better than trying to work the path over and over again.
Still, while I advocate taking challenges and making (a few) mistakes, one should be cautious when they try something new. Don’t just shoot yourself out of a cannon and hope to make it….at least make sure you’re wearing a helmet. 🙂
Never say “I can’t” ”” if you can’t do it, someone else will be there who can and he/she will take your place. There’s no excuse for ignorance anymore. If you really don’t know something, Google it. Seriously. I Google things like 50 times a day!
@lil_tea Yep, that’s great advice. Everyone’s replaceable. If you don’t know what you are doing and don’t want to learn how to do it, chances are there are five others who will gladly trade places.