Graduation: Feeling Lost



One, two, three... You and your coursemates gleefully toss your graduation hats into the air. You smile for the cameras. You drink your free glass of champagne and toast to the future. You drag your family around campus to get the perfect graduation photo.

But behind the smiles there's a niggling thought in the back of your mind. What am I going to do next? 

You think back to the hardships you've overcome to reach this momentous day. The hours of cramming in exam season. Running a reaction in the lab over and over again. Memorising over 50 organic chemistry mechanisms. The tears you cried when you were convinced you would fail. Resisting the temptation to drop out when the going gets tough. Yet it seems to overcome all of that is not enough.

I held a piece of paper in my hand certifying that I had achieved a first class in a master of science degree, yet a part of me still felt like a failure. Crazy isn't it? But as I scanned the graduation hall I spotted people who had jobs lined up, people who were at least sure of the career they wanted to pursue post-graduation. It seemed like everyone had direction, a path to follow for the immediate future at least. Everyone apart from me. I have no idea what I am doing.

I do believe that you should pursue what you want to do and what you enjoy. But the problem is I don't know what I want to do. I am not sure what job I would enjoy. To be honest, I feel lost. My whole life I have had my path marked out for me, go to school, work hard, go to university, do well in exams. Now suddenly it is all down to me. And that utterly terrifies me. 

Follow my journey as I navigate the murky waters of graduate life. If you are feeling like this too, then please come along with me - we're in this together. 

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