Hey You! What Next After Graduation?

December is such a busy month, with so many things happening in a short period. From taking a break from work and taking the family to ushago for the festivities to traveling to most recreational centers for family bonding time and so on.

This is a time when most fun activities aimed at bringing the family together happen as well as visiting new places and meeting new people.

It is also the time when most universities, both public and private, hold their graduation ceremonies set to award students who have completed their course work.

Many students if not all, hold this moment dearly to their hearts.  They have finally made it. For some, they have surpassed all the obstacles and emerged victorious, while for others, they have managed to make their families proud.

The “new professionals” in town do not take this ceremony for granted. All dressed in new gowns for the occasion, ready to capture the happy and unforgettable moments on camera.

The ladies especially put on the best from their wardrobe. Most of them go to the market to get everything new just for this special day.

I guess this is an encouraging moment for all. Family, relatives, friends and even neighbors are all happy about the graduand. We all are after seeing your gorgeous or cute pictures on our friend’s social media platform statuses congratulating you. It’s a milestone.

Lost in the passion for the occasion, most of the students do not want to hear the what is next after graduation question. But come to think of it. What is next after this big day?

Your family has invested in you, so basically the next big thing on your mind after your graduation party is to look for that dream job.  The one that has taken you years to study in the university.

If you’re not furthering your studies after your diploma or first degree, society is now looking upon you. They expect you to start giving back.

This is where most students start feeling the pressure. Not many of the students get an opportunity to have the work experience that is now the first and a mandatory requirement when applying for most employment opportunities that are already scarce in Kenya.

For those who only got a taste of work experience during attachment or internship periods that only lasted for three months, it’s a big blow. Furthermore, some students are not competent enough because they lack the required skills.

I wouldn’t insist it’s their fault but they also have a role to play to ensure they are well prepared for the field after their course work is done. As much as students say it’s more theoretical framework than practical’s, what are you doing as a person to get what you want?

During transitioning period for these young adults, lack of jobs or perhaps where you want to go can sometimes cause post-graduation depression. Post-graduation depression also known as post-grad anxiety is one of the understudied and underreported states of mind. It is not a medically or officially diagnosed illness or condition, but rather a state.

It occurs in young adults right after they complete University/college education, often due to pressures to get a job right away or the sadness of leaving their college peers and life behind. It is accompanied by a quarter-life crisis–a feeling that makes people aged twenties doubt their life values and purposes.

A large number of fresh graduates find themselves doing jobs that don’t even match what they studied for while in school. This usually develops due to a result of having bigger plans after college but their expectations get hit hard by the reality of this harsh world.

Also, the independence that comes after graduation where they want to earn themselves and live a life they wished for yet it’s not getting fulfilled through their career path might push them to consider other informal work settings.

Many fresh graduates say that life after graduation is not easy. Skills mismatch between what is taught in class and the industry. One gets the reality that there is much to learn which isn’t taught in school. Sending in a job application is costly for a young unemployed graduate, the clearance certificates from EACC, CRB, etc. are a hindrance too. HELB loans repayment kicks in after graduation yet you don’t have a job.

Once out of school, you realize that your social circle is so small at the time you need their support. Everybody is busy looking for a way out.

Students need to expand their network out of the classroom, learn as many skills as possible, and have a fallback plan in case the job doesn’t come immediately after graduation. To those graduating, volunteering is also key when it comes to marketing yourself.

Going out of your career is not bad. Give it your best shot. The most important thing is that you found a way that is perfectly working for you.