Transitioning to the "Real World"

So, let's get real.

"The Real World" is a phrase that I've come to despise. Ironic, considering the title of my very first post back in September.

I hear it with increasing frequency as I inch closer and closer to graduation, and each time I resent it even more. There's just something about it that's way too cynical for my liking. Sure, post-grad life is definitely going to have its own challenges, but all aspects of life do. I have no doubt that each and every one of us is equipped to make it in this so-called "real world", because we already have been making it.

Think back to freshman year (I'm asking a lot here, but just try). You were going through a huge transition then, too. Going from high school to college probably wasn't easy. You had to learn many new things - like how to make new friends, how to do laundry, how to run on 3 hours of sleep... Those are just a few of the adjustments you had to make to survive college. I bet you can think of many others.

Artist depiction of myself after Freshman year.
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And yet, you managed. You made it work, even if it involved a Sophomore Slump and a couple (or 3, or 5) identity crises along the way.

Going from college to post-grad life is not somehow more "real" than any other transitional period. Your four years in college were real.You know that, you just went through them. They were real and they were challenging, and amazing, and enlightening, and sometimes downright scary. So why is there this constant implication that "real life" doesn't start until we're handed a fancy piece of paper?

Don't get me wrong -- I totally want that fancy piece of paper.
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My main point here is that there is no reason to panic about the "real world". Post-grad life will certainly be different, but it won't be impossible to adjust to. If you're feeling like you don't even know where to start, here are some tips that might make the transition a bit smoother (though a bumpy transition is okay too!):

Learn about all that boring financial stuff. You know, taxes and the like. As unexciting as it is, financial literacy is one of the most important parts of the transition to living on your own. A sad truth is that college doesn't always do a great job at prepping us for that. Fortunately, thanks to The Power of the Internet, there are tons of places you can get the right info. Learning how to budget early on will save you a lot of financial strife later. I recommend sites like Society of Grownups, Mint Money Manager, NerdWallet, and this article about filing taxes. Think of it this way: worried about managing your finances? There's an app for that.

Prepare to have an actual routine. Here's the thing: going to sleep at 4am will not be sustainable once you have a full-time job. You probably already knew that, but I'm just making sure. Personally, I think that this particular adjustment will be the most difficult. I'm mentally preparing myself. It will probably suck at first, but there's hope; once you actually have a pattern of getting up earlier, your body clock will eventually catch up. For example, my mom wakes up to go to work each morning without an alarm at all! Granted, my mom might actually be a wizard.

Have interesting hobbies. I've mentioned hobbies in previous posts, but I'm going to mention them again because they're so important. Life after college has the potential to become monotonous very quickly - working 9-to-5 probably isn't going to be packed with excitement. As such, it's really your own responsibility to make exciting things happen. One way to ensure that you're life doesn't become a cycle of working and sleeping is to have a life outside of your job. Dedicate yourself to things that have nothing to do with work - travel, join a rock climbing club, pick up an instrument, play a club sport, make some art - anything that will stimulate you in a unique way. Remember - in post-grad life, the weekends are yours! No 10 page papers looming over your head.

Try interpretative dance?

Know that you're not alone. For a lot of people, post-grad life can create feelings of isolation. This is especially true if you find yourself moving far away from all the friends that you made in college. You might end up back in your hometown, or in a new city where you don't know anyone at all. It's easy to feel like you're the only one who's struggling to figure your life out. Maybe it seems like everyone else has their life together, but I can promise you that almost everyone will be feeling just as lost. Being 18-25 is a weird time for most people, but like all things it will pass.

If you're feeling really down, talk to your friends (who you should definitely stay in contact with!), or use the internet as a resource. Here's a Reddit thread I found that asks people to share their experience with post-grad life. As you can see upon reading, pretty much everyone was able to make it through their challenges. For me, it was comforting to see encouraging messages from people who have gone through the transition and survived (maybe not unscathed).

We can all bond over how much it sucks to pay bills.
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If you're anything like me, your 18-year-old freshman self never could have imagined that you would change so much and experience so many things in just four years. Can you imagine how much you'll grow and improve in the next four (and beyond)?

I'll end my motivational speech/penultimate post here, but know that you deserve credit for all that you've accomplished. I hope that you're proud of yourself, and that you believe in your ability to take whatever the "real world" decides to throw at you. You'll always have at least one person cheering you on (this girl right here).

For real.


P.S. Bonus links: Click on each word!

Signing off,

Kelly F. Vieira
Class of 2015