Post Grad

You graduated college… Now what? Jobs, moving, $$$, and changing relationships can be a lot to handle, especially when you’re trying to “find yourself” outside of your university comfort zone. I went through the exact same thing 3 years ago. Here’s 10 pivotal lessons I learned.

1. You don’t have to know what you’re going to do with the rest of your adult life as soon as it’s started. I graduated with a BS in Finance. Am I in that industry now? No. Will I be one day? Who the heck knows! My point is that you don’t have to have everything figured out right away. Interview and explore your opportunities as a new talent!
2. Adjusting to full adulthood is not easy. In college, my definition of grocery shopping was going to Walmart and picking up $50 worth of snacks. You’re in charge of the shopping, the paying of the bills, the cooking, the cleaning, everything! It’s scary and exhausting, but you’ll be better for it. People ask me all the time if I like living alone, and my answer is always “Yes, but it was difficult at first!
3. If you land your dream job, as your first job job, then kudos! That was not the case for me. I started in a small office in Columbia, Missouri and worked my way to moving to Chicago, and then getting and new better job. It’s a process! If you want to put a rush on it, work hard and ask for what you want.
4. Mean girls still exist outside of high school and college, learn how to fight fire with kindness and eventually they’ll move on. I had a bad experience in my second job, but that’s also where I made some lifelong friends!
5. If you’re moving to a new city, try and make genuine connections with anyone you can, that you like! That includes baristas, co-workers, waitresses, new friends, anyone. When you’re friend poor for the first couple months, it helps to have connections period. No matter how fleeting.
6. Rejection is a part of adult life. Accept it and move on. Sometimes people don’t want to hire you, date you, or be friends with you. And that’s okay. If the rolls were reversed, you’d want that choice too. I’ve interviewed at a hand full of places that I loved, and they didn’t give me an offer. It sucks, but you end up at someplace better for you and the company hiring.
7. Dating was the last thing on my mind when I started my career, which isn’t unusual to me. In high school and college, I was never that boy crazy. I’ve been on interesting dates and spent time with a lot of cuties in Chicago, and I will say that the most meaningful connections I’ve made were founded in spontaneity. In Lyfts, at bars, on rooftops, wherever. I guess what I’m trying to say, is put the dating apps down for a bit and see what happens organically.
8. Don’t let people walk all over you, because they will try. Let people know upfront that they need to respect you, no matter your tenure. When someone asks you “How old are you, anyways?” you are totally within your right not to share that information. If you’re good at your job, it shouldn’t matter.
9. Cash money isn’t fun to talk about, but here’s the tea. Unless your an heiress, you’ll be strapped for cash. I had to work VERY hard for 2.5 years before I was comfortable. I started my career making a little over a third of what I make now. With parental loans (thanks mom!), moving jobs twice, and thrifting I was able to not only survive, but thrive. Make a budget and do NOT rent an expensive AF apartment. Lap of luxury comes later, get back to the hustle now.
10. Last, but certainly not least, I have to recommend some sort of creative outlet, while you’re starting your new nine-to-five job. This blog is mine. Something’s entire purpose is o make you feel happy and fulfilled. I didn’t start this to go viral or to make money. I started this for me, and I don’t regret it for one second. Not even when girls were snickering at work about my “blogger” status. Not when boys I dated laughed at the concept of a style blog. Have the guts to create something and don’t look back.

Thanks for reading, babe! Do you like this kind of personal/advice post? Ask Emma can 100% become a thing, so sound off below or on my Instagram and let me know what’s what. I fully enjoyed writing this. I hope it helps you or someone you love.