By Madison Farrar, Staff Writer
As the time for the Class of 2018 to leave Asbury creeps closer, the reality of having to enter the real world is becoming more and more clear. Making the leap out into the professional world, outside of the Asbury bubble, is daunting. Here are ten tips to leaving well from some Asbury alumni who made it out and are making it well enough to give advice.
- Embrace Networking
“Finding a job can be stressful when you’re just starting out, especially when you don’t have any contacts within your desired field. But there are so many great resources nowadays that can help with that! There are online groups that have constant job postings and mixers being hosted all over the place that give you the opportunity to get to befriend other people working in your field. Stay connected with the people that you’re graduating with because you never know, maybe your former chapel buddy could be hooking you up with a job!” Julia Lambert, Class of 2016
- Be Kind to Yourself
“Just like going into college was a transition, leaving college is also a transition. For some it will be easy and for others, it will be harder. If it’s rough, let it be that way. Find people to talk with when it gets difficult and give yourself grace. It’s a fresh start. If you need to go home for a while, go home for a while. Do what is going to put you in a position of long-term health.” Levi Simonton, Class of 2017
- Take it One Day at a Time
“While I know it’s so much easier said than done, truly learn to take post-grad life one day at a time. You’re not going to have it all figured out the day after graduation–but you will down the road! Just work hard towards that future you’ve always wanted and never lose sight of it. God’s got you!” Paula Willison, Class of 2016
- Prepare Yourself for Loneliness
“I didn’t realize how lonely post-grad life can be. Not to say that it’s terrible but it’s hard! You go from seeing your closest friends every day to possibly not knowing anyone in a new place. I encourage you to find some type of community. It may not be as strong as what you experienced at Asbury but plugging into a church or doing new things and volunteering can help you build new relationships.” Kylie Gooden, Class of 2017
- Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
“When looking for jobs, look out of your comfort zone. Apply for positions you don’t think you would qualify for and don’t get discouraged when your inbox is filling up with rejection emails. Eventually that position you have been waiting for will come along and you’ll understand, and even be thankful for all the rejection emails. Hold on to your drive, purpose and passions!” Chelsea Bartlett, Class of 2016
- Don’t Play the Comparison Game
“No matter how hard life seems, you’re not alone. Finding a job is hard. Paying off debt is hard. Paying rent is hard. While that may be true, don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. You’ll start to see your Asbury friends getting their dream jobs and getting amazing opportunities and it’s easy to beat yourself up about it. I encourage you to celebrate the small victories and keep your eyes on God, even when life feels like a hurricane.” Aaron Winneroski, Class of 2017
- Trust that God will be Faithful
“To the students who are back at square one, with still no clue of what they want to do, aren’t pursuing their area of study and who are living with their parents: trust that God will be faithful to get you through tomorrow. While you’re in this place of limbo, find ways to invest in the people who are around you at that moment and keep pursuing the things you actually love to do. God will take care of you financially if you just give it to him, I promise.” Aubrey Charette, Class of 2017
- Create Healthy Habits
“Most of us treated our bodies and minds pretty awfully during college. Now that you’re leaving campus and embarking on the next phase of your life, you have the chance to rearrange your priorities. I would encourage you to make sure ‘personal health’ is near the top. Find an exercise regimen you love. Eat real food that is actually good for your body. Sleep eight hours a night! (Or more!!) Remember the importance of your spiritual and mental health as well.” Ashley Dickerson, Class of 2017
- Be Patient
“Embrace the waiting game. Not everyone is going to get a job right after college, or move into their own place immediately. Obviously, there is a time for urgency and taking initiative, but don’t be afraid of the months (or year) where you have no idea what you are going to do. Use those moments to continue investing in your current relationships, or be bold and expand your network. Keep pursuing your passions and hobbies because you never know where they could lead! Oh, and definitely get a MoviePass.” Jeremiah Law, Class of 2017
- Put Effort into Relationships
“Staying connected with your Asbury friends post-grad is hard, especially when you’re all over the country. You were only with your college friends for four years so you have to be intentional in maintaining those relationships if they’re going to stick. If that means planning road trips and spending time and money to see each other for one day, that’s okay because it can be worth it. People travel and paths cross so it’s nice to have friendly faces everywhere.” Sam Martin, Class of 2017
