Post-Grad or Post-Drab?
- Katie Ford
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
When I graduated from college, I genuinely thought life would fall into place. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my college experience, but I was eager to step into this next phase of adulthood. My plan was simple: a) land a job, b) move into my own apartment, and c) fully embrace the “real world”, maybe even get a boyfriend. Spoiler alert: none of that happened. Instead, I graduated from the University of Colorado in May 2024, faced a wave of job rejections, moved back in with my parents, and have been endlessly applying for jobs ever since.
When I first moved home, I barely unpacked. My room was a mess, but I convinced myself it was temporary; there was no point in settling in when I’d be leaving soon, right? But as weeks turned into months, reality set in. My excitement about post-grad life faded, replaced by frustration and self-doubt. It felt like everyone around me was moving forward while I was stuck in place. Friends were landing jobs, moving to new cities, and seemingly thriving in adulthood, while I spent my days refreshing LinkedIn, rewriting cover letters, and sending applications into the void. I started questioning everything: Was I not qualified enough? Did I make the wrong choices in college? The uncertainty was (and still is) overwhelming, and the longer this drags on, the harder it is to stay positive.
The hardest part of this whole shift has been the dramatic change in my social life. In college, I was surrounded by my closest friends, always together, creating memories, supporting one another, and sharing in the excitement of life’s milestones. But post-grad life is a stark contrast. With everyone scattering to different cities, starting their own careers, or adjusting to their own versions of “real life,” the support system I once had is now far away. It’s a strange kind of loneliness that comes from realizing you’re no longer in constant touch with the people who were once your daily companions. And while it’s a part of growing up, it’s still tough. The absence of shared moments has made it harder to stay connected, and sometimes, it feels like I’m completely alone.
As much as it feels like I’m the only one struggling with this, I know I’m not. So many of my peers, whether they graduated last year or years before, are facing the same kind of uncertainty. It’s easy to feel isolated, especially in a world where social media highlights everyone else’s success, but slowly, I’ve come to realize that this phase of confusion and doubt is part of the journey. Instead of focusing on the frustration, I’ve started looking at it as an opportunity to learn more about myself, to dive deeper into what I really want from my career, and to embrace the challenges that come with growth. While I may not have the job I expected by now, I’m learning that the path to success isn’t linear, and sometimes, it’s okay to pause and take a different route before getting there.
During this time, I've also realized the importance of making the most of the situation, even if things aren't going as planned. I've been trying new hobbies, failing in some, succeeding in others. I have to remind myself that I am so lucky to be able to have this time to figure my shit out and have supportive parents that have truly been there for me during this crazy life transition. It’s been a time of trial and error, but I’ve learned to embrace the process rather than rush the outcome. The lessons I’ve picked up along the way, about patience, perseverance, and finding joy in the small victories, are things I never could have anticipated, but I’m grateful for them. It’s been a reminder that success isn't always about having everything figured out but about the progress we make in figuring it out.
While I may not have all the answers, I've accepted that uncertainty is a natural part of the process. Your journey is uniquely yours, and comparing yourself to others will almost always leave you feeling worse. I’m not defined by the things I haven’t achieved yet but by how I’m navigating these challenges. Every day, I get a little closer to understanding what I truly want, and that in itself is progress. Life after graduation sucks, but it can also be really amazing if you let it. It gives you the freedom to explore, grow, and redefine what success means to you. So, the best advice I can give—and the advice I follow myself—is to take it one day at a time and trust that things will fall into place, even if it doesn’t look the way you originally imagined. But if you're reading this and would like to offer me a job, please feel free! ;)
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