Recent college graduate... Now what?
So, here I am, a recent graduate. I finished with a bachelors in psychology. Towards my senior year I decided that I wanted to take a year off to work in my field in order to make sure that I am making the right choice. I decided to work at the University that I graduated from and was very fortunate to receive a full time job with good pay. Also, I decided to keep my current job (working at a hospital in the medical records dept.) in order to have health insurance and also extra money to pay off my 30K student loans. Finally, I have been working as a martial arts instructor since high school. All together I am working roughly 60-70 hours a week. I am used to hard work and I am not bothered by my hectic schedule.
Lately, I have been thinking about the decisions that I have made. Although I am financially stable I often become sad. I see my friends traveling and just enjoying their time off. They are just "living" life. I tend to always do the "right" thing and I am very concerned with paying off my loans, having health insurance, and working towards the next step. In the back of my head though I always wonder what it would be to be more carefree. I would love to be a photographer and just travel the world. I do not want to live an extravagant life but would rather experience what the world has to offer. At the same time I would love to volunteer abroad and just live a simple life.
So, for those who graduated college, did you have similar thoughts? What did you do? What should I do? Should I continue with this secure "correct" route or just drop everything and explore?
Comment on Wondergirl's post
Wow! Thank you for sharing. I love how you involved yourself in various fields.
I am not a big city person. I love the outdoors way too much. I enjoy visiting big cities and just visiting new places in general. I do not want to work in the psychology field. It took 4 years of college to figure that out. Currently, I am interested in working in a college setting. I am starting a job at my University this fall to see if it is the area I am really interested in. At the same time I am developing my photography with the hopes of one day working for a magazine. But I feel less anxious about having to commit now since I can see that my decision does not have to be permanent. I recently have been offered an opportunity to manage the taekwondo school I currently teach at. I was nervous to commit since I did not know where I want to live or what I want to do. But like you stated, I should take the opportunities that are presented to me.
Thank you again.
Comment on Wondergirl's post
Great advice again.
I have been very fortunate to have had these opportunities come up. My hard work has paid off. I have worked for the college newspaper for 4 years. Afterwards I was offered a full time job for our local newspaper but turned it down since the college job seemed a smarter choice (free tuition, better pay, more room for advancement, etc.. ). I have been a freelancer at the same time and have shot weddings, senior portraits, and sold work. I also had my work exhibited in galleries and had 3 showings. Now, I am looking for that next step which I believe it to working for a magazine.
I guess anxiety kicks in when I have to make decisions that have an impact on my future.
Are there any other life lessons that you could tell a 22 year old?