Graduation is bearing down. Completing your studies and walking across the stage to receive your degree is incredibly rewarding and is an accomplishment anyone should be proud of!
But what’s next? How do you make the most of your education and find success in life after school?
1. Stay true to yourself.
Your goals and dreams are yours. You’re passionate about ideas and causes that might not resonate with others. You have talents and skills that are uniquely your own and honed by your experiences and background. In the same vein, how you deem yourself successful is based on your definition of success and fulfillment.
If your viewpoint of success is to land a well-paying job downtown, go out and conquer! Make sure you have all your ducks in a row for your portfolio—résumé, cover letter, references, and work samples. You know the drill.
But keep in mind the journey to the top is winding and takes time. Remain patient. Stay calm. Your degree and résumé will get your foot in the door; it’s up to you to show the corporate world that you are knowledgeable, prepared, capable, and unstoppable. Excellence is a series of small things consistently done well.
And if your picture of success is you looking amazing in your cap and gown—congratulations! You are a role model and have much to be proud of!
No matter how you define success, recognize that you will always be a student and have opportunities to grow and discover. And be patient in the journey.
2. Have a game plan.
3. There’s not a cookie-cutter experience.
In school, the expectations of earning an A are clearly defined in the syllabus; some professors might even provide a rubric for projects and assignments to detail how your work will be assessed. As most adults know, that doesn’t exist in the real world.
One of the toughest lessons to learn and remember is that what worked for one person to realize their dreams and achieve success will likely not work for you. And that’s ok. Stay persistent and remain true to your dreams and goals. You’ll forge your path, and it will be glorious.
You’re already a weathered veteran when you start college courses as an adult. You possess working skills and professional knowledge. At Amberton, students graduate with refined techniques and improved skills that add to their value as employees.
Click for a video of Dr. Di Ann Sanchez explaining how Amberton graduates have a leg up on their journey to success after college.
