The Post-Grad Experience: It's Your Story to Create!

With a global pandemic at the tail end of my post-graduation program at Sheridan College, I jumped right into the working environment, as there was no in-person convocation ceremony for the Class of 2020.

Recently- two years later, we were invited back to cross the stage and take a moment to celebrate our successes and continuation of our new chapters.

June marks the beginning of summer as well as milestones in my life journey. Such a wonderful nostalgic feeling being back in my college days. It made me reminisce about the summer of 2015 when I stepped into Christ University for my undergrad.

Looking back, I remember the nerves and excitement as well as being fascinated by the beaming energy of the campus. My 18-year-old self didn’t know that somehow in the next 3 years – the university would become some form of security blanket for me.

As I reflect on these past years and the season of transition, I see tremendous growth in myself.

I really found my true self amidst all the challenges and the hard days. It’s not typical of us to spotlight failures and appreciate the lessons learned. Those back-to-back classes, the crazy grind of pulling all-nighters to get assignments done, and the opportunity to get involved in co-curricular and extra-curricular through college fests and various clubs molded me to become more resilient, a hell lot more confident, and holistic.

Like many others, I had no idea what my future held back then. There were times when I questioned everything and had to redefine my goals. With so many lessons to learn and obstacles to overcome, don’t expect to come out the other side unscathed.

The three greatest takeaways from my university years -

Explore and Network

University is a thrilling adventure in your life. Learn to thrive in this environment by exploring and networking as much as you can, as often as possible. Say ‘Yes’ more often and make the most of every opportunity and encounter. Build connections with new people and open more doors. I met amazing friends outside of my classroom and overcame my worst fears by exploring the unknown. Whenever I was unsure, I always asked myself what was the worst that can happen and took the leap of faith. Do more, create more, and live more!

Define What Success Means for You

Invest in your professional development before time flies by. Be purposeful and intentional about what you do and who you want to become. Success means different things for everyone – it’s important to know what it means for you. True success in life is hardly measured by your money, fame, or the trophies and degrees you collected. Don’t let your fears or doubts hold you back from being on your path to success.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

The only story that matters is yours, and there’s no race to the finish line. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others in general – especially on trivial things like test scores, grades, and academic accomplishments. Eventually, you would realize that everyone’s timeline is different outside of the university. Years down the line, you would be chuffed for everyone and there would be unbridled joy when you see your peers achieving their goals and happiness.

Never forget your value. No one else can do what you do. Always strive to keep learning and experience all you can.