Post College Blues

The tassel has been turned and the cap has been tossed. You've gotten your diploma or degree and now the excitement is over. Everything you've worked for has finally paid off in the form of that certificate. After graduation day, life can be pretty anti-climactic. For some people, this means applying for college or graduate school. For others it means entering the work force. Both tasks are daunting, new, and a little scary. But what if you're feeling blue after attaining one of your greatest life's achievements? What do you do when you when you start to feel depressed as you close one chapter of your life? Here are a few tips about being a new graduate.

Recognize that you're feeling down

Denial is not a solution for dealing with strong emotions. You've probably been to every emotion possible in the last year. From excitement to impatience, to remorse and guilt, all the way to sadness and fear. All of these feelings are normal when you're entering a new phase in your life. Life transitions are never something easy, and even though the actual process of graduation is just one day and one piece of paper different than yesterday, it's still going to feel different. You'll wake up in a panic some days, wondering if you've missed class. Sometimes you will think back on how fun it was to be in a particular class or to be with your friends. Even worse, after graduation financial responsibility becomes a reality. For high school graduates, this means that you suddenly realize that you'll have to find a way to pay for college, travel, health, and still find money for a little fun. Or you could be diving right into a profession after high school, and that means bills, taxes, healthcare, and retirement. For college graduates, it means all of that plus paying back whatever you owe from student loans. It's hard not to feel like you're drowning. So what do you do?

Don't let it swallow you up

Debt is America's greatest challenge so far in the 21st century. If you watch television for ten minutes, you're sure to see at least one "get out of debt" commercial. When dealing with debt or saving, you have to use a micro-scale to achieve macro-scale results. Meaning what? Well, if you try to deal with everything at once you'll become frustrated and will be less likely to successfully handle your money issues. When paying bills, prioritize. Be careful about using credit cards. They are a great tool that has been demonized. When used responsibly, they tell lenders about what a reliable and careful person you are. You'll be more likely to get a great home loan rate, a great automobile loan or get lower credit card rates or higher limits (but that doesn't mean you should use those higher limits!).

If you're new to the financial world, I suggest taking a course at a local community college in business finances. It will help you understand things like insurance premiums, taxes, and managing bank accounts. It's a good investment in your financial future.

If you're struggling with debt from multiple credit cards, most experts suggest the snowballing technique. You can find more in-depth explanations online, but in a nutshell you basically start with the card you owe the least on and work on paying it off while paying the minimum balance on the others. Then progress to the next card and the next until you've paid all of your cards off.

For student loans, remember that repayment begins six months after you drop below a set number of hours (for some loans it is full time hours [12] and for others it's below part time hours [6]). If you get into a situation of financial crisis, you can defer payments for a few months, but only once so use this carefully.

But most of all, don't be afraid to ask for help. Talk to people who have been there. Ask a parent, teacher, professor, friend, or sibling for advice. They may know tips or tricks on how to get discounted healthcare or where to apply for a home loan.

Being Jobless

The most frustrating thing for job-seeking graduates is the current job market. It's difficult to find a job in a time when people who have been employed with the same companies for decades are getting laid off. If you have looked in your local area for over a month, it may be time to widen your area of job searching. You may have to move, but some companies offer compensation for doing so. In a job market like this one a small move may give you big benefits. Remember, this is just one step in the ladder of your life. As you become more experienced, you will have more options and eventually be more likely to choose where you want to live and work. Another tip: if you're having trouble finding a job, it might be because you're not making finding a job your job. Make looking for a job your 40-hour-a-week job until you land one!

Most of all, don't forget your dreams. Dreams get lost in dark days like these, as people drudge on to make end's meet. You may end up doing a job you never thought you'd do, but remember that it's only for a season. Keep a journal and write down all of the things you want to accomplish. Remind yourself constantly of the things that you dream of doing. Dreams are the fire behind great accomplishments... and don't ever let yours die. Never think that because you're starting at the bottom, that you won't make it to exactly where you want to be. All it takes is determination, a good attitude and hard work.