Overcoming post-graduation blues

No situation, good or bad, is permanent (Image: Andre Hunter on Unsplash)

Graduating is a fulfilling and exciting experience, a moment that most higher education students look forward to. After putting in years of hard work and sacrifice receiving the fruits of your labour in the form of a higher qualification is a gratifying moment.

Now, what next? What lays on the other side is not always certain, and the fear of the unknown can consume some graduates.

In the current age of social media, it’s easier than ever to compare your life to the lives of other people online: She got that job. He travelled there. They got married. He gave her a promotion. She bought a house. He got a new car. The list is extensive. Celebrating the achievements of others while disregarding your own accomplishments can send you on a downward spiral of post-graduation blues. Today, we share some encouraging advice for surviving this season of life.

No situation, good or bad, is permanent. That, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t overcome the bad times when they come. In life, we all go through seasons, there is a time for everything, and everything will fall into place at the right time. Someone else’s Chapter 10 is not your Chapter 1. When you move through life at your own pace, you will overcome and conquer every challenge that life throws at you.

Write down a gratitude list and include “graduating” on that list. Many people don’t get the chance to achieve a higher education qualification. The fact that you have a higher education certificate is a blessing in itself, something that many men and women around the world would do anything to accomplish. Being grateful and appreciative of your accomplishments in life humbles you and reminds you of how blessed you truly are!

As mentioned above, social media makes it easier than ever to compare your life to the lives of those you see online. It is common for people online to only put their best foot forward. Most people won’t confidently share their struggles and failures, and that’s why these platforms make it seem like everyone else is succeeding in life but you.

Picture life as a race track. When athletes are running a short distance race, they don’t look to the left or to the right to see who’s faster or slower than them. Their focus is on the finish line, based on their ability to cross that line at their own pace. Have this same perception on life without looking at it as a competition. Your performance should be based on your ability to move at your own pace while focusing on your personal dreams and goals.

Instead of looking at post-graduation blues as a punishment, what lessons can you take with you from such a season? Tough seasons in life teach us the most valuable lessons and make us stronger and wiser. Look for the silver lining in the situation and think about what that season can teach you. Is the lesson humility, patience, perseverance, consistency? These lessons will help you in life in the long run!