Do you know what you're doing next year? It's the question that I, as a senior, hear almost every single day, posed by everybody from random classmates in recitations, to people I meet at parties, my grandparents, my parents, friends of my parents, friends of friends and then, of course, my friends themselves.
Unless you're a senior who already has a job lined up for next year, there's no way you can definitely know what you're doing after graduation. Even those of us applying to grad school don't know for sure where we'll get in. Many seniors, then, find this question of "next year" frustrating to answer, because they don't really have, well, an answer.
Since I don't know what I want to do with my life, I've been attending the plethora of information sessions on campus about post-graduation opportunities. My hope is that one day I'll go to one of these sessions, fall in love with a career, or get totally inspired by a grad school's presentation or an alum's lecture, and my purpose in life will suddenly become clear.
I've gone to journalism school presentations, only to find out that they like their applicants to have seven years of experience in the field before applying. While that might help me seven years from now, it does nothing to decrease my present post-college identity crisis. I've gone to pre-law workshops and the speakers always mention how law school shouldn't be looked at as a solution, or an alternative, to figuring out what you want to do. But I have yet to find my Buddha, my passion, my calling.
It's not a complete waste of time, though. These info sessions aren't always immediately helpful, but they do give me new ideas to consider. And by exploring what's out there, I'm keeping my options open. The more things I apply to, the more offers I will receive, and having choices is at least a start to figuring out my future. Instead of forcing myself to find a career path as soon as possible, or sticking with something because it's safe or easy, I'm experimenting and trying new things. And hey, if all else fails, my past experience as a barista just might come in handy.
