Congratulations! Now What? 

Advice for a recent graduate

It is peak graduation season nationwide and graduates are in a frenzy to enter into the "real world". This year I've had multiple family members graduating and I am so proud! Now is the time to celebrate your accomplishments, revel in your success and celebrate the hard work you put in to earn your title as a graduate but after all the fun is over, then what? Some of you have planned your next move which may be a job right out of college or you may be preparing for your freshman year in college for this fall. Either way, now is the time figure out what your next move with be and how that will position you closer to your goals. When I graduated a few years ago, I was given a few books that helped me in my direction of discovering what I wanted to do next. I was the graduate who did not have a clear plan for what was next for me. Thus, I was motivated to write this blog because I want to applaud all the 2014 graduates and extend some advice to you along with some suggested reading. If you do not have a set plan as to what will be next for your life I want to be one of the few that say. That is Okay. No, really it is okay that you may not know what your next move will be. If you are a high school graduate there is plenty of time to decide weather you want to pursue college or possibly cater to other options.

 If you are a college graduate, perhaps you did not get your dream job or did not get into the graduate school you desired and you did not have a plan b. It is not the end of the world. There is still time to get a summer internship or volunteer position at a organization that can help you in the long run. Simply put, there are so many opportunities out there such as Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Green Corps, and City Year. These opportunities are beneficial in many ways as they provide one with experience, education and time to figure out what may be best for you and your career options. In addition, most of them provide stipends for you to live off of while you serve as a volunteer. These are just a few programs to consider as you make your transition into the real world. So again, congratulations and welcome to the real world, please tread cautiously.

Books you should read

"Congratulations! Now What?" by Bill Cosby

"I Just Graduated....Now What?" by Katherine Schwarzenegger

"Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss


Sincerely,

The Burgeoning Turtle


Song of this post: Wear Sunscreen Song