Transitions

Graduation has just swept across the country and summer is finally/officially here. Now, I know most of you have been on summer vacation for about a month now, but in New York people were still graduating last week, so vacay has just begun here. 

Last month made a year of Post-Graduate living for me, and a lot has happened in those 12 months. I went to Cuba, worked at a B&B, did wedding coordination, sold all my furniture, bought more furniture, moved into the B&B, took several spur of the moment cross-country road trips, flew to Europe and country hopped, sold all my furniture- again, packed my entire life into my car leaving everything else behind and moved to New York city,

-whew, take a breath...okay,

Job hunted for three months, went completely and absolutely broke, started teaching ESL online, started teaching at a daycare, was asked a million and one times when I was going back to school, launched my blog, discovered my love for writing, started writing for an online magazine, had several life-altering self realizations, and a million other tiny things that fall in between. Basically, this postgraduate year has been a big period of transition. The exciting and messy kind that you get to learn and grow from. Yay me. 

This one is for all my college graduates. First, congratulations ya filthy animal you did it. Second, get ready! You really have accomplished an amazing milestone. I know walking across that stage felt incredible and slightly nerve-wracking as you tried not to fall in front of thousands of people in your heels, instantly becoming an internet meme. Now the hype has died down and the real work begins, because life after college is like freshman year all over again- but for real life. So I guess this is the part where I give you some advise like your favorite Pinterest quotes.

Graduates, it's not going to all fall into place...

...just because you have your degree. Some of you may be going straight into internships or masters programs while others may decide to take a break. Whatever you're doing just make sure you're doing it because it is right for you. You're the one who has to put in the effort, so make sure you think it is worth it.

When you get that first crappy job

(Because you will) be willing to learn from it. No matter where you end up there is always something you can take away from it and grow, if you are willing. People say a lot of negative things about millennial's, and our sense of entitlement, and I don't always agree with it. However, I have witnessed some of it to be true, even within myself. So, just know that you are going to have to eat some dirt, hold your tongue, and just do the grunt work. YOU.JUST.ARE. No job will be perfect, and you won't start out where you are, right now, dreaming you'll be. Nobody does unless your daddy is rich and your mama's good looking. Basically, shut-up, show initiative, and do the work- that's it. 

Don't get comfortable.

Let me say that again, DON'T GET COMFORTABLE. Life and circumstances have this weird way of lulling us into complacency. You get familiar with your routine and how things are and all effort for progress or the dreams and ideas you had suddenly become memories. Between paying bills and being tired -can I just say I thought I knew what it was to be tired in college, but no. I have never experienced straight up exhaustion like I have since working all day, with three-year-old children, 9-hours a day, but anyway- we can easily say, well this is just life and I'm here to get through it. Dang, that thought is depressing on multiple levels, but I hear it all the time and have even thought it myself. You will get to where you want to be, but not without effort. Yeah, it is exhausting. I motivate myself by saying, would I be okay if I was doing this same thing in five years. Right now the answer is heeeeeeeeeeeeecccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk no, so I keep striving my friends. 

This is a two-parter.

Don't be afraid to fail, and then fail again. Stop letting your current circumstances dictate what your future can be. Absolutely nothing about my past year makes sense on paper. Just thinking about it makes me go, wow girl you did a lot, and I'm not even sure how. Growing up I heard a lot of people talk about their plans, and their future, and things they were going to do. These matters were always spoken about with such passion and conviction, but rarely ever came to fruition. Now, I don't know if it was due to a lack of belief in oneself, or just a lack of know-how in how to accomplish the task. Whatever it was/is the point is, I learned most people are more talk than they are action. This was not always done intentionally, but still, it annoys my soul just a bit. Why? Because like a child, I earnestly believe that everyone can accomplish whatever they choose to. Now, it may take several tries, and not turn out exactly how you imaged, but you can get the job done. Don't be the person who always talks about what they are going to do and never does anything about it. Can you change your mind? Sure. Just put feet to your prayers, that's all I'm saying. Finally grads...

Go try new and scary things.

Stop worrying so much about having your life completely settled right away. Now, if that is 100% what you want to do go for it. If it just seems like the safe option, or the next logical step in whatever timeline you have in your head, maybe go try something else. Even if everyone else around you isn't doing it. There is a whole world out there, and it is more accessible than ever before. Of course (disclaimer) be responsible and think before you act. I'm not talking about making random reckless choices. Just step out of fear and into other possibilities. When you do this, know that your world is going to be rocked, but those are just the growing pains of transition. Again, congratulations graduates, and get ready!

Love,

-Chantel

P.S. I understand that this blog post may only resonate with a certain audience. Your choices are your own and how you choose to live is completely valid and, well, up to you. It's all just a matter of opinion based on experiences. Remember, filter not offend. ;)