My Thoughts and Advice as I Approach Graduation

When you graduate from college, you may have a ton of mixed emotions about leaving your friends, getting a job, going to graduate school, etc. I am two months out from graduating, and I am definitely feeling a lot of different emotions. I am here to tell you what you feel is OK and how to utilize your connections to ease the job search stress. 

Use Your Connections

I know you have heard “use your connections” and “it’s not what you know it’s who you know” about a million times. I hate to say it again, but it is true. You have so many more connections than you think you do. Not only do you have the people you’ve met in your jobs or internships, but you also have your family’s connections and friends who recently graduated. When you go home for Thanksgiving and winter break, talk to your family and friends about who they know in the field you’re interested in. 

Over the summer, my dad was talking to someone at his gym and it turns out he works on the marketing team at LinkedIn. He gave me his number and now he is helping me with my resume and possibly a job at LinkedIn in January. At first, I was nervous to message him because he doesn’t know me personally and I wasn’t sure if he would want to help. Once I messaged him and asked to meet over Zoom, I realized how willing he was to help me just because he knew what it’s like to be in my shoes. The more I message people asking for informational interviews, the more I realize that people want to help. They remember how stressful it is to find a job out of college, so they are more willing to help.

It’s OK to Feel This Way!

Graduating from college is scary, fun, stressful, and emotional. I’m tearing up just writing this. There is so much to think about when it comes to finishing your classes, looking for jobs, and spending those last moments with friends. Make sure you take time and be present. You will never get this time back, so make the most of it. One of the biggest things I have implemented into my last semester is saying “yes” as often as I can. Sometimes I would say “no” if it was late and I was tired, but I have never regretted saying “yes.” It is so important to create memories that you can look back on after you graduate. So, it is OK to feel how you’re feeling and honestly, most people feel this way when they graduate. 

Here’s my advice, find joy in everything you do. When you’re in class, think about how you can apply this knowledge to a future career. When you’re with friends, be present and soak up all the time you have left together. You’re going to want to look back at your time at GVSU and remember all the fun you had and the knowledge you gained. It will be stressful and difficult but it’s also beautiful and amazing.

About Madison

Madison is a Senior currently studying Marketing at GVSU with a minor in Advertising and Public Relations. She works at the GVSU Rec Center in the Fitness and Wellness office. She teaches strength-based workout classes, answers emails, and manages events. This is Madison’s second year in GrandPR as an Account Executive. She will be graduating in December, a semester early, and she hopes to start her career at an advertising agency.