As the fall begins to settle, for students entering their final years of university, there is inevitable trepidation and excitement. Thinking about the future can often be mind-numbing, there are so many important aspects to consider for post-graduation. Maybe you want to pursue another degree, take a gap year, or begin fellowships and jobs. If you are looking for some advice, you have arrived at the right place!
Use your resources 📓
Reach out and stay connected with the resources at your university. Schedule appointments with your university's career centre and connect with professionals on Linkedin. And of course talk with professors. While office hours might be seen only in an “academic” light, you can use office hours to spark conversation about their professional journey to inquire about advice and letters of recommendation.
Lean on your community 🫂
As a second or third year, it is imperative that you lean on your community, if you have one. From peers in your classes to friends and family. This time can be especially challenging not only academically but physically and mentally as well. Remember to take time out of your busy schedule for yourself and your community.
Plan your thesis 🗓️
For the students in their last year working on a year long dissertation or project, it is so important to plan. Even if you are only a few weeks into the year and have not had much consideration, start adding time blocks to your calendar to only focus on your thesis. Talk with other students, advisors and professors if you have any questions.
Start applying early ⏱️
From fellowships and Fulbright scholarships to internships and “real jobs”, start applying as early as possible. Use a document to chart and organize applications as well as responses. Google Docs is a great and easy way to organize everything into one place. Remember to set reminders from Handshake and Linkedin and apply to as many jobs as you can.
You are not alone 🍋
As a child, there is a normalization of being asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Throughout childhood, the answers can vary and change, but suddenly a decade passes and now you are expected to have life figured out. Reflect on your growth and know that if you don’t exactly know the answer, that's quite alright. So many students in their last years still haven’t a clue what career they’ll pursue or the person they’ll become. You are not alone in experiencing the same mix of emotions: fear, excitement, joy and sadness, that bittersweet recognition that you are growing up and everything's changing.
Live in the moment 🎓
When living in a competitive environment that encourages balancing academics with extracurriculars, still having a social life and learning for fun, it can be simple to become a part of a mundane routine of essential actions from eating to attending class to going to work and working on assignments. Don’t forget to change things up! Go see that movie you’ve been waiting to see, attend an orchestra concert you never had the opportunity to, or support the sports team at your uni. As you near the end of an incredible chapter remember these are the moments that you’ll never forget.
“Don't wait until you've reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take toward reaching that goal.” -Simone Biles
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