How to Stop freaking out about graduating

How to Stop freaking out about graduating by Amber Rolfe Change can sometimes be scary. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be positive… If you’re graduating this year, you’re probably already experiencing a rollercoaster ride of feels. On the one hand, you can’t wait to be done with essays, coursework and education altogether. But, on the other hand, you’re still not quite ready to give up on all the perks of university life.To help diffuse the emotional panic, here are a few useful tips that could stop you freaking out about graduating:  Embrace the unknownOK, so you’re entering a stage of your life that you’ve never experienced before.Each step until now has probably been determined by some kind of education (see also: your parents). But now you’re on your own, there’s no clear path for you to follow.But instead of focussing on your fears, think of your newfound freedom as a positive. Now’s your chance to try new things, finally do what you’ve been studying to do for the past three years, go t ravelling, or just enjoy earning yourself a decent wage.The important thing to remember is that the unknown will teach you a lot. See graduation and what comes after it as an opportunity to learn, grow, and figure out what you actually enjoy doing, and everything else will fall into place naturally.Remember: great things never come from comfort zones.  Stop comparing yourself to othersSo your housemates have their supposed ‘dream careers’ lined up already, and you’re still trying to figure out how to use the library printer.What’s right for someone else isn’t necessarily right for you, and it might not even turn out to be perfect for them either. And just because you don’t have everything figured out already, it doesn’t mean your choices will be any less valid.Instead, focus on yourself and what you want. No path is the wrong one at this stage, and if you’d rather search thoroughly before jumping into the first graduate position you see, no one’s going to judge you .Similarly, if all of your friends are taking a year out to go travelling, and you’d rather concentrate on pursuing something closer to home, that’s fine too.So stop measuring yourself against everyone else. Just concentrate on what’s right for you.  Don’t set your expectations too highThere’s a fine line between optimism and being unrealistic.Even with a degree, many fields are highly competitive, and unless your course provides you with a guaranteed job after you graduate, you may need some extra experience to help you stand out from the crowd.If you’re struggling to find the right role, be proactive and build up your experience whilst you wait for the job you really want. This might mean taking on an internship, volunteering, or even working in a field that isn’t totally ideal, but helps build those all-important transferable skills.After all, all experience is good experience.Not only will this demonstrate to employers that you’re a hard worker, it’ll also give you the practical skills you need to excel in your dream job.Don’t (over)planAlthough it might feel like you need to have your entire life planned out before you graduate â€" this definitely isn’t the case.If you’re in your final year, browsing job vacancies and assessing your options is a good idea, but don’t make it your sole priority at this stage.Because if there’s one true thing about life after graduation â€" it’s that it’s changeable. Finding out what you want to do with your life partly comes from a system of trial and error, and even if you do set a strict plan, you might not even end up sticking to it.To keep a clear head, focus most of your attention on your end of year exams and/or coursework, and make the most of university life while you still can. You’ll have plenty of time to sort your working life out after you graduate.Remember: it will get betterThe post-university blues can be hard to beat â€" but it will get better.Once you’ve had time to sett le into your new situation, think about your options, try new things, and inevitably make some (helpful) mistakes â€" you’ll see graduation as a positive experience.As an example, think back to the upcoming months before university. You were probably scared. Excited too, but fear was definitely a predominant factor before you realised it was a necessary step. And the same thing will happen after you graduate.You’ll learn and grow from graduating just like you did from going to university â€" and, it might surprise you to realise how much you actually did learn in those three years…Still looking for your perfect graduate role? View all available positions now