I don’t know what to do.
Last Wednesday was my last day of university… ever…or for the time being. The freedom is suffocating. For 6.5 years my life has been, all things considering, planned and predictable. Now what. I have been hiding from the decision process and I’ve been escaping and avoiding the fact that I don’t have a clue what to do and I have no energy to decide. See? Hiding. A very dear friend of mine was encouraging me to set some goals and that in doing so, I may ease this inflated amount of opportunities and options. So I’ve set some and it hasn’t changed anything. I mean, it’s hard to dream when you have 6.5 years of university debt hanging over my head. But he was right, and in the last three days I am finding myself coming around to really, truly focusing on what I’ve always wanted to do outside of becoming a teacher and being a student. Like traveling. I really want to see the world, probably more so now than ever before. And I also really want a career and to teach. But there are no jobs right now…nobody is really hiring teachers in December? Weird, I know (sarc.). But I think that what is suffocating is that it’s my responsibility and my choice and I really am anxious to get on with it, I just don’t know how. It’s funny, for months I’ve been craving the end of university and now, as thrilled as I am, I am not sure I am ready. The real world? Really?
Here’s a good one — I read for 4 hours Thursday morning… straight. I can’t remember the last time I did that. And then, anxiety literally set in and I flew out of my chair feeling like I was being lazy and so I stopped. But the book was soo good and I didn’t want to stop reading. I missed that. But I was hiding again.
There’s honestly no point to this post — I guess I just wanted to share where I am at. I am struggling and I am overwhelmed and I don’t want to keep avoiding or looking at this change with anything but excitement…so maybe if you have any ideas for me (not to do but how to cope), I am waiting, anxiously.
Cheers.
16 December 10 -- Thursday at 12:55 pm
Well… the good news is that you can do whatever you want to do. And for right now, it’s Christmas. And time to enjoy family and to just relax. You deserve at least that much.
In the New Year, who knows. Doors have a way of opening when you least expect them to. 🙂
19 January 11 -- Wednesday at 2:04 pm
Finishing up schooling is a really hard adjustment. I was really sick of school and was desperate to be finished, but was a stress case for many months after I graduated. I think part of the problem is students are incredibly goal driven – finish a paper, finish reading, study, finish this semester, finish next year… with the big goal of graduating. And once you graduate, there is nothing to work towards. I agree, keep making goals. And keep relaxing in your free time – you will eventually learn to enjoy it.
Maybe go teach english in another country. It would be a great way to travel, to get a job, and to pay off your debt.
Also, Congratulations on finishing your schooling! That’s a really big accomplishment.