It’s official — I’m having a quarter life crises. Like many other students, I’m sure, I find myself at a crossroads with so many important decisions to make in such a short amount of time.
And, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, “What are you going to do after graduation,” I probably wouldn’t have to do anything — I’d be wealthy enough to forgo my journalism career altogether and instead, spend my time rendezvousing in Tahiti. But because I certainly don’t have a dollar, let alone a penny for every time I’m asked this question, I’m repeatedly reminded that life as I know it is about to drastically change.
Don’t get me wrong, change is good. Change, however, would be a lot easier if it came with a detailed, college course-like syllabus we’ve all grown so accustomed to, complete with set time schedules, expected outcomes upon successful completion and clearly defined repercussions. But because no such syllabus exists, the scary question, “What are you going to do after graduation?” typically does not sit well with most anxious soon-to-be college graduates.
The questions all start when you’re about 5 years old, you know, the whole, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” thing. Followed by, “Where are you going to college?” And then comes the kicker — “What are you going to do after graduation?”
The first two questions have never stumped me. The third never really bothered me either, that is, until recently when I realized that asking for an unpaid internship was equivalent to asking for an organ. Can you imagine if I had been seeking a paid position? From that point on I knew that my safe and easygoing lifestyle would soon be gone.
“The question” is not well received by most college seniors because it forces a step outside of the comfort zone, and a realization that the real world does not accept Wolfbucks and that frequently drinking large amounts of alcohol no longer makes you a socialite, it makes you an alcoholic. So, next time you come in contact with a graduating senior, ask them about the weather, ask them whatever you want, just don’t ask them “the question.”
And even though I despise answering “the question,” I’ll make an exception for my last column. And hopefully by doing so publicly, I’ll minimize the number of times I’ll be asked. So what do I plan on doing after graduating you might ask? Well, after waking up from that full night’s rest I’ve been putting off for four years, I’ll probably hop in my Benz and go to work as the number one ranked anchor at some highly esteemed television network.
Just sayin.’
