Back to school? Not so much.
A few years back, as I approached the end of my university career, I was filled with a huge sense of relief: I was FINALLY done! No more school! No more classes! No more homework!
Oh, um, wait a second.
I realized something very sobering, very suddenly: I didn't know what to really…do.
I'd been a student my entire life. How could I make that transition from student to Grown Up in the Real World?
The other night, while talking to my younger brother, who recently graduated from teachers' college, we found ourselves talking a little about this strange experience.
After years of grueling essays, late-night coffee runs and early morning classes, it's easy to imagine the thrill of finally being done. The enormity of that moment – whether it's highschool graduation, undergraduate commencement, or something else – can feel so grand, that we often forget about what comes afterwards.
Usually, the most pressing issue is finding a job that will launch your eventual career. If you've spent loads of time, effort (and money!) on years of schooling, you'll want it to count. There are numerous job search guides available right here through the library website. Check out the Career and Job Search blog where Elle recently posted about the young grad job squeeze. In an older entry, Frances has some recommendations for books and websites that can also help.
If your job hunt is leaving you frustrated, check out some interesting ways to keep sharp, motivated and organized so that frustration doesn't get the best of you.
The truth is you never stop learning – ever. (And if you do, you're clearly not spending enough time at the library!) So if you're in that twilight time between finishing school and beginning your adult career, make the most of it.
Discover a new hobby, or build on an existing one. Websites like Pinterest can be great for planning and collecting ideas for things like do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, for example. Come into any library branch and browse what we offer on a wide variety of topics.
If you're really craving a taste of the classroom, there are also general interest courses you can enrol in covering a wide variety of topics (think: playing the guitar, learning French, floral design and much, much more).
You can also use this time to build valuable pre-job skills: network with other grads and people in your area of interest, seek out volunteering opportunities, and maybe even check out job opportunities abroad if that's something you might be able to do.
I still get a familiar pang of nostalgia around this time of year as others prepare to go back to school. Don't get me wrong – I'm in no rush to jump back into crowded lecture halls, or run by bustling lockers, but sometimes, I actually…*gulp* miss school! The good thing is, there are tons of things to do and explore once you're out of school, and if you're unsure of where to start, stepping into a library can help you get started.
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