#DEARFRESHGRADSELF
Congratulations, Class of 2019! We know that a lot of thoughts and feelings are probably going through your brains right now–and that’s completely normal! For now, allow us, your “older siblings” here at #TeamVCS, to share with you some words of advice: what we wish WE knew when we first graduated.
I was honestly so excited to graduate because of the uncertainties in life that I hoped to just jump into. I was excited at the prospect of being led somewhere exciting, and of course, the MONEY. I would get to earn and spend for myself and NO ONE can stop me or prevent me from getting stuff I wanted!
Reality bites, though. I was too naive and hopeful about my career. There were things I didn’t expect to be so difficult to go through, plus work can get boring even if you’re earning. Aside from that, there are more responsibilities to look out for and things we are also expected to know.
It’s even harder to get through when you don’t know where you really want to be, what you want to do, who you are and maybe even where you really need to be.
I was lucky enough to have done a lot of exploring throughout college, and knew more often than not what I didn’t want to do, and what I couldn’t do–thus, I narrowed down the things that I’m actually curious about and thought of where I could grow.
Right now, have to say, I am still growing and I’m still not always certain about my decisions, but at least I’m really learning to follow through my YESes and NOs and take these wholeheartedly – and rather than regretting, I might as well make the most out of where I am and let myself experience life in a outward-looking manner; still filled with dreams, hopes and a determined spirit for self-discovery and growth.
I tend to get pressured at all times especially when I feel like I’m left behind. But, I always keep in mind that I’m still young, and at the right time, I will definitely go places. Another thing that I wish I knew is to always follow your passion. Making art is an essential part of my life. I always find time to draw in school, paint in our house, or even sketch while I travel. But as the days go by, I’m slowly losing my motivation with the things I love to do, including art. I try to bring back this passion that I have by making art, but I always remember to take things slow. I know that someday, I will be much greater than who I was when I started.
Because our school’s graduation has a different schedule from other schools, I felt like I had to rush after graduation. As soon as I finished my thesis, I went on to apply for work, get all those government IDs, etc. Thankfully, I landed a job, which, though it wasn’t my dream job, led me to a good company with good people. Which led, eventually, to my dream job.
While I’m happy with where it all led, and I’m grateful since not everyone has that kind of chance, it also makes me wonder “what if I waited it out, held out a bit longer, and actually enjoyed funemployment for a bit after graduation?”
I was the only one who pressured myself to get a job that quickly–no one told me to, my parents didn’t expect me to, it was all just me. I could’ve spent some time learning new skills at home, learning how to drive (if allowed!), spent time with friends and family, and I would’ve found out that I could’ve gone on to do further studies right after graduation.
Now, I’m trying to buy back that time and those opportunities, little by little. And I just think that, hey, if it happened, then maybe it was all meant for me anyway.
But yes, if you can afford to do so, please do enjoy a breather after graduation! Your physical and mental health will thank you for it.
At that time, it was an uncertain period in my life — full of doubts and anxiety about the future. I missed a lot of opportunities; I was disabled by the fear of failure and judgement. I wish I had known that taking chances, being able to disagree, stating my opinion, and pursuing things I thought I couldn’t…all this would bring me in places I never knew I’d be able to see, help me meet people I never thought I’d encounter, and be someone who is genuinely true to myself.
I wish I had known that after college, it will be challenging to seek out what I truly wanted out of life. Achieving it is another challenge altogether.
Of course, you need to appreciate the small things you have in your everyday life as well. But when it comes to big decisions, you need to love and accept your choices until you get to your goals. Your past choices are what made you into the person you are, and every decision you make now will define you even more.
Just because you won a lot of awards doesn’t mean that you’re all that great. You still need to prove yourself in the real world, because there is A LOT of things that you still don’t know. It pays to learn something new every day.
After graduation, I found out that having high grades or being in the honors list aren’t enough when it comes to getting your dream job.
Back in college, it was my goal to study hard, to get good grades and to do really well–which I did, thank God! But my parents would always advise me that in the real world, a lot of companies look for those who are experienced and skilled. They encouraged me to hone my skills further because work is not just about having good grades. This advice really stuck with me through the years, since advertising and production are both competitive industries. You need to prove yourself to everyone and show them that you are the best candidate for the job.
Right after high school, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, so I pursued that path. But I realized later on that it’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to spend time exploring and learning about other options before committing to a path. At the end of the day, the world is your oyster, no matter how old you are.
Got any tips or stories that you’d like to give the fresh grads? Share them in the comments below!
Vitalstrats Creative Solutions (VCS) is a creative agency based in Quezon City, Philippines. VCS specializes in content marketing, advertising, and video production. We use strategic creativity to help our clients grow their brands.
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