It’s that time of year again where college graduates are making that transition from a university setting to the ‘real word’. Most graduates have no idea what their next step is going to be and begin to panic while others have prepared themselves for the next stage of their lives. Here is a list of five things that every college graduate should do once they graduate.
1. TRAVEL
One of the most powerful ways to awaken your creativity is to adopt and understand new worldly perspectives. The most practical way to accomplish this is to travel.
2. LEARN A SKILL YOU HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED BEFORE
Maybe you’ve always marveled at your friend’s piano skills or maybe you wish you could speak Hungarian. Well, now is your time to learn. Designate an amount of time (30 minutes to an hour per day) to your intended skill. Be persistent and soon you will master it.
3. VOLUNTEER
Your academic experience taught you to strive to be a good employee in order to make money. You focused on yourself and your source of validation came from your grades (along with the pats on the back from friends and family). But a secret to living well is to give back. Share what you can give to the world to make it a better place. This might mean joining the Peace Corps or volunteering at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving, but make sure to do something that’s not about you.
4. STOP SEEKING ANSWERS AND START ASKING QUESTIONS
Up until this point, you may have been following someone else’s path, but start asking yourself what you want from your life. Constantly ask yourself questions like, “Who am I?” and “What do I want?” every day for the rest of your life.
5. START INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH
How you treat your health in your 20s will affect you for the rest of your life. Unless it is of your own volition, you will no longer have to pull all-nighters to cram for exams. Also, your desire to party all weekend, every weekend may begin to wane, so start to invest in your health now.
Without your health, you have nothing. Take care of your body to maintain the energy and stamina that other parts of your life will necessitate.