“Now that I’m officially done, I feel weird”: The end of college begins with post-graduation anxiety

According to a review published within the journal, “The prevalence of anxiety has gradually increased over the years, becoming one of the most serious problems in colleges and universities.” While anxiety could be significant in the course of the college years, for a lot of it’s anxiety it could worsen during transitional periods, e.g. on the end of the academic experience.

Chinwé Williams, Ph.D, a licensed and authorized skilled counselor and authorized EMDR therapist, confirmed that anxiety is common amongst recent graduates. “It’s extremely, extremely normal,” she tells ESSENCE. “ Embarking on the journey of a lifetime, no matter what it looks like after high school or college, can be both exciting and terrifying.”

Williams notes the importance of having a support system to assist latest graduates begin the subsequent phase of their lives and careers. Jordynn Bass, a Class of 2024 graduate from Florida A&M University (FAMU), said having a robust “spiritual foundation” and involved parents helped her through the transition. “I truly believe that if I didn’t have any of them, I probably wouldn’t have made it because college is a very, very, very difficult experience,” Bass says.

“Transition seasons can challenge some students’ self-esteem,” he adds, and Williams agrees. “They go beyond what is familiar, what they knew in their hometowns or in their current environment, including school, work or whatever.”

Kiara Brown, 22, sees herself in a different way since earning her bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University. Her support system consists of her parents and aunt, and she or he reaches out to people in her circle who can relate to what she is experiencing. Brown frequently discusses his profession trajectory with friends who’re going through the identical transition.

“I’m starting to feel like an adult, because I’ve already finished school,” she says. “I’ve been going to school for 18 years of my life, and now that I’m officially done, I feel weird.”

This strangeness can present itself in self-imposed pressures. Brown admits she has set a timetable for locating a brand new postgraduate job in a difficult job market, and Williams says anxiety can set in during times of uncertainty. “Employment opportunities often don’t resemble what they went to school for, and the salary isn’t even equal to the salary they need to survive and buy a home, so there’s a lot that’s overwhelming,” the therapist says.

Post-graduation concerns and challenges arise at every stage of the formal educational process, not just for the youngest graduates, but additionally for individuals who have already worked. Monica Haule, 40, and Sharaye Samuels, 49, received advanced degrees this yr. They belong to the so-called community Sistas Cohortthrough which members share details about their educational experiences.

Haule, an educator considering “a few contingency plans,” has her own concerns concerning the job market. “I see the landscape and a lot of budget cuts, so I just want to make sure I cover the costs,” he says.

Samuels tries to stay optimistic that her efforts to pursue higher education will likely be rewarded. “I hear, ‘Well, once you get that degree, all the doors open up,’” he says. “I hope.”

As they wait to see what post-grad life holds for this stage of their lives, Haule and Samuels receive support from their peers within the Cohort Sistas community, which was founded by Dr. Ijeoma Kola.

“Something that builds resilience is surrounding yourself with a network of supportive people who can offer encouragement, guidance and perspective,” Williams says. “It relieves anxiety and actually makes you feel empowered.”

Haule agrees. With the group’s help, she began to think about her identity beyond her skilled values. “With their encouragement, I decided to prioritize my personal life,” she says.

Williams recommends embracing your complete transition to work through the anxiety that comes with the transition time. He advocates adopting “cognitive flexibility” as a technique. “It’s the mental ability to adjust your thinking,” he explains.

Instead of specializing in that job or scholarship that you’re thinking that will change every part, change your perspective and check out to keep up good mental health. “Match your words to something positive. If you can’t find anything positive, and sometimes that’s true, match it with something neutral. In psychology, we call this reframing,” he says.

Is there one solution to do that? It could also be helpful to view graduation as the start of a brand new journey relatively than the start of a self-esteem deadline.

“Transition times have both an end and a beginning,” Williams says. “It really is the potential for self-discovery.”