Why it's Hard to Adjust to Post Grad Life

I've been thinking a lot lately about why I am having a hard time with life in general. I have always been able to adjust quickly and easily to whatever situation was thrown at me. Sometimes it took me a few days, sometimes a few weeks, but it has been over a year since graduation and I am still not entirely adjusted. But, at least now I think I have pin-pointed why.

1. We have no built-in goal. Through High School and College alike we had a built in goal: graduation. There was an end point, there was a plan, there was light at the end of the tunnel. We were working towards something. Once we graduate most of us have 1 goal: get a job. Ok, well what about after we have a job?
2. No Built-in vacations. Since we entered the schooling system we have had built in vacations. Summer was longest, followed by 2 weeks for Winter Break, one week for spring break, and some 3-4 day weekends sprinkled through the rest of the year. We could relax, read for pleasure, travel, whatever we chose. Now most of us have 10 vacation days a year and have to fight for holidays and weekends off.
3. The repetition. Every day includes the same tasks, people, problems, solutions, places, etc. No longer do we have 2 or 3 different topics to focus on in a given day. We can't change what we focus on every semester. We have a job, and a boss, and some co-workers, who may change slightly, but the focus is still the same every day.
4. Our support system has scattered. In college most of our friends lived in the same city, if not the same house. You could easily grab coffee after a class, have a mini-freak out, and feel better about life. Now our friends have scattered to different cities, sometimes even different countries. And mini-freak outs are turning into major ones.

These are the three main reasons I came up with that are making this Post Grad thing difficult. I know that they do not apply to everyone, but they are broad enough to be relatable. While I know that there are ways to remedy numbers one and three, I am not at the point of acceptance yet. I am half in denial that this monotony is now my life and therefore will not yet try to fix it. I keep hoping that one morning I will wake up and something magical will happen and it will no longer need fixing.

And then I realize that in order to actually get my life together I need to set some goals and make some changes. Here's hoping I have the energy to work on that very very soon.

Coming of Age in a Crap Economy

Coming of Age in a Crap Economy by Liz Funk

Allison: I thought this book was definitely well researched and inspiring. I loved that Liz interviewed post grads with a wide range of backgrounds and ambitions, while mixing in the opinions of other professionals and the history of how our economic situation has come to exist. Instead of speaking down to recent graduates as many articles in popular media today seem to do, this book had an encouraging tone and left me feeling like there is a lot more in my post grad life that I could be accomplishing.

My only criticism of the book is that the sheer amount of interviews (while all extremely interesting) can sometimes be overwhelming to read. As I think back to the book, it's hard for me to pick one interview that stood out because there were so many.

That being said, I still believe the book is an inspiring read and I look forward to the second book in the series!

4/5 stars

Shikole: Coming of Age in a Crap Economy is the book equivalent of an anthem for our generation. Liz mentions that our generation is one of the few that doesn't have a World War to bond over or define us. The economic struggle is our World War. There are very few post grads that are not affected by it. The effect of the economy on our lifestyles, outlooks and success is universal.

One of the things I liked best about this book is references Liz made to so many aspects of pop culture. Pop culture IS generation Y. How do we deal with losing our jobs? We watch television shows like Dexter to try and remember that other people's lives might be worse. Our struggles are even being used in pop culture as a theme. There was a movie released in 2009 aptly titled "Post Grad" that almost every one of us can relate to. I still haven't decided if seeing post grad struggles on screen makes me feel better or worse about it.

I agree with Allison that the amount of interviews gets overwhelming. I would have loved to have seen a case study or two instead that delved deeper into a post grad story. Obviously other interviews would have been needed to prove some points, but the only interview I can remember after reading is Caitlin's. And I only remember hers because we share an alma mater.

I think the best thing you can take from this book is that we, as a generation and as individuals, need to re-work the equation we thought equalled success. Behind the struggle, the failure, the rejection and even the optimism, is the bottom line: Post Grads in today's economy have to do it differently.

Rating: 3.8/5

We will be giving away a copy of Liz's book "Coming of Age in a Crap Economy" on Friday so be sure to come back to enter!

I Don't Answer My Phone After 10pm

Remember when we were kids and our parents wouldn't let us use the phone after like 8pm? They considered it either disrespectful for someone to call so "late" or insisted that it was no longer time to be social but to be in bed reading. At the time I thought my mother was a kill joy and I resented her for stifling my social butterfly from emerging. She wasn't in middle school so obviously she had no idea how important it was for me to be able to answer that call.

Now, as a post grad a year out from graduation, I don't answer my phone after 10pm. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule in certain circumstances.

1. If I am expecting your call/text I will answer.
2. If I happen to still be out at dinner or other such social occasion, I will answer.
3. If a call/text comes through more than three times I will likely come to the conclusion it is important and answer.
4. If it's any of my sisters they have a special exception and I will answer.

Other than that I see no need to answer my phone after 10pm on a weeknight. This is when I would like to be in my bed. Relaxing. In sweats. With Tea. This is ME time and should not be interrupted. Don't take it personally.

Post Grad Flashback: One Tree Hill

I've been pet sitting this past week and had the privilege of accessing a huge television and cable. Mixed in with waking up early to walk the dog, I also rediscovered the teen dramas I used to adore. Apparently Soap Net has something called "Breakfast in Bed" on weekend mornings that broadcasts all the old shows: The O.C., Gilmore Girls, and One Tree Hill.

They were playing the One Tree Hill episodes of the middle seasons, the 5 years later episodes. The gang had already graduated high school and were now in their mid 20s. They were our age. And watching the 3 back to back episodes this morning I realized that they were no where near normal people like the show wanted you to believe.

Lucas had a book published and a movie being made out of it.

Peyton had her own music production business and managed an up an coming star.

Brooke had her own fashion line.

Nathan was playing basketball for the Chiefs.

And Haley had a record out and was helping to manage the up and coming star.

Only Haley and Nathan had attended college.

Oh and Haley and Nathan are married with a 4 year old, Peyton is pregnant with Lucas's baby and they are engaged, and Brooke is trying to adopt. Have I mentioned that these people are OUR AGE?

I used to love this show. The characters, the drama and the adventures they went on were a great escape from my everyday life. And a great reason to get a bunch of girls in the same room with a bottle of wine. But when I watch this show now all I see are unrealistic portrayals of real life. Every character has their dream job, a promising relationship and all the money in the world. And here I am, post grad and single at a job that is far from my dream and in a mountain of student loan debt.

This show that I used to love so much had depressed me before 10am. I have come to the conclusion that the shows i used to love, should stay in the past.

5 Best Movies about Post Grad

By Shikole Struber

You are not alone in your quest of fulfillment! There are plenty of movies that follow the lives of post grads on their adventures and misadventures. Try watching these in all the spare time you have while unemployed.

1. Accepted. Great message. You should learn what you WANT to learn in college and go on to do what you WANT to do.



2. Into the Wild. Drop it all and hitch hike.



3. Lost in Translation. Marry an older man. Travel with him to Japan. Try to figure out what you want in life.



4. The Graduate. No one knows what they want to do after grad. Until they screw and older woman and fall in love with her daughter.



5. Post Grad. Graduate. Move back home. Sounds familiar...