At around this time of year, University life begins for many and continues for others. People move into halls or houses with friends and prepare for the year ahead, which is likely to involve the occasional lecture and seminar but also plenty of socialising.
For those people who have recently graduated and will not be going back to the student life for the first time in at least three years, things can be more difficult than first thought. It can be hard to here friends talking about going back to finish their courses or to do a Masters when all you are left with is fond memories and photos of your time as a student. It can be even harder if you live in a student town, or live where you went to Uni, to escape the fresh, excited faces of the ‘Freshers’.
There are many people who always comment that students are lazy and do not do very much that is productive. Whilst it is true that many students do have a lot of time off, they do have work to do and are studying to go into jobs that will hopefully benefit society in a great way, for example, teachers, doctors, scientists or dentists. Unfortunately, when you graduate you may find that a lot of people treat you as if you are a bit stupid saying things like “welcome to the real world”, “how are you going to cope in the real world” and “will you ever be able to wake up in time for work?”
It is true that University life is a lot different from working 9-5 for many as there are courses which have not many contact hours, you are surrounded by friends, have a loan and a reputation for partying no matter what day of the week. Nevertheless, for some students contact hours are very high and every student has a substantial workload and deadlines. A significant amount of people do not get very much financial help and thus a loan and such money borrowing opportunities do no go very far. This means that they have to get a job and balance work with study. When leaving University many graduates have become far more independent and mature than when they first arrived as a student. They are more than capable at surviving life outside University, however, leaving University is a big step and it naturally takes times to adjust. Therefore, try to ignore negative comments and don’t fret.
It is easy for people to forget that when you graduate, you are not just simply finishing your studies (unless of course you decide to take further courses). Leaving University also means saying good bye to close friends you have made over the years, as you all return to where you came from or leave to begin new jobs. This is a tough venture in itself, as you feel unsure and worried about when you will see your friends again. Furthermore, due to initial financial strains many people end up living back with their parents while searching for jobs, which can be very difficult when you have grown used to so much freedom. Even if you plan to work and then travel, living with parents can be difficult. Life after graduation can be a pretty stressful time.
If you have recently graduated and are struggling with so much change, there are a few things you can do which might make things a bit more bearable.
Finding a job itself can be tough and with all the competition having a degree does not naturally ensure you will be top of the pile. However, my advice is to keep applying to jobs you think you would be good at, don’t get disheartened by rejection and don’t give up. I would also suggest working anywhere you can whilst you hunt for a career job, as this will enable you to earn some money, it will keep you busy and minimise the time you have to miss university life.
When deciding where to live, it may be possible for you to arrange living with some of your post graduate friends. If this can be arranged then you will still be around people you have grown to know well. However, this situation is very idealistic seeing as everyone will most likely end up working in different locations and some people may not get a job quick enough to fund themselves, or get a job that pays enough. It is important to be realistic.
If you decide to continue living where you went to University, as some of your friends are staying, or if you just like the area then this can be a good idea. However, it is important to look towards your future and not get upset if your friends are still at University, living the student life when you have to get up early for work. To make the transfer from University to work as easy to cope with as possible I would recommend living with other professionals and not with students, who are up at all strange hours of the day. Moreover, remember that you once were sleeping at strange times and you were indeed a ‘Fresher’ too, therefore try not to resent them too much. Try not to rule out making friends at work, as these people are likely to have a fair amount in common with you.
If money is tight and you have to go and live with family members, the best way to cope is to keep yourself busy, get a job or even take up a new hobby . For instance play a new sport or book yourself onto a language course. This way, if none of your friends from school, sixth form or University are around, you should find new people to socialise with. Furthermore, you won’t have lots of free time to irritate and be irritated by family.
Leaving University is undoubtedly a hard and confusing time, however the more willing you are to embrace the next stage of you life and the more proactive you are, the better you should be able to cope.
By: Patrick Omari
