So I've Graduated...Now What?!

The end of the school year, the end of our favorite TV shows, the end of nice spring weather. More importantly, it's the wonderful time of year when students who have successfully completed their four years of high school will walk across the stage and into the rest of their lives.

To many students, graduation is welcomed with open arms-yet to others, it is an almost dreaded event because of the doom they associate it with.

The thought of the end of something they have known and felt comfortable in for such a long time can be terribly discomforting.

Change is often a discomforting thought.

However, change is essential in the growing process and in maintaining a successful life. This is but one of many lessons to learn from life, so welcome it with open arms!

So how do you get through this awkward position between graduation and adulthood? Is college for you? Do you feel called to the military or the work force?

Or maybe you aren't sure what the next step should be. Not immediately knowing what you want out of life is ok; here are some suggestions to help you get on your way.

Stop and breathe. Just relax! Although it may seem like there are tons of decisions to be made, you probably have more time to enjoy being a graduate than you think.

Without taking the time to let things settle after the end of your senior year, you are more likely to make rash and unclear decisions that may need correcting later on. You've worked hard to get where you are, so reward yourself by taking a break from serious decision-making for a little while.

When your mind is clearer, begin to think about what it is you really want.

Make a list. Create a list of your interests, no matter how crazy or outrageous they may seem. Doing this will give you a visual idea of what it is you like to do, thus allowing you to look at your passions and fully examine them.

Seek advice. Talk to people who you trust and who really know you. These people can include your counselor at school, your favorite uncle, and especially your parents.

Let them be a sounding board to you and, when they offer advice, fully hear them out to look at every possible option for you to take.

*Note: this goes outside the borders of your peers.

Although friends can be great sources of fun, laughs, and the occasional partners in crime, they may not be the best people to turn to, in that they are more liable to tell you what you want to hear, rather than what you need to hear.

Go to people with more life experience and who have established themselves in the world.

Enroll in college. Going straight to college after high school graduation is what over 80% of high school graduates decide to do, and I am a strong advocate of this avenue. Getting a post high school education is not only a road to higher learning; it is also a goldmine of opportunities.

If you decide college is right for you, do some thorough research to find local (or non-local) institutions that best suit you and your goals in life.

If you feel college is not right for you, sit down and seriously consider your other options. Talk with your parents and discuss together what the best route is for you.

Remember, the decision to not go to college should not be used as an easy escape from doing nothing. You should make your decisions with care and you shouldn't stop at not going to college-instead, decide what you are going to do with your life and get started. At least get an idea so that you can begin to make steps in that area.

Get a job or internship. If you don't already have one, get a job not only to use your time wisely, but to also make money in the meantime.

While searching for that perfect job, look for jobs that are of interest to you. If you love animals, try working for an animal hospital or pet store. If you enjoy landscaping, check out your local gardening store for open positions.

Sometimes, there are places that require more experience than you have in order to be considered for hire. In cases like this, don't get discouraged. Instead, look into volunteering and interning when possible. This opens up doors to so many more positions and also looks great on a résumé.

Travel abroad. Imagine spending the summer learning firsthand about the ruins in Greece. How about photographing magnificent Spanish architecture for a couple of weeks? Now picture yourself backpacking through the Australian outback...

Traveling abroad gives you the opportunity to learn about and be completely submersed in another culture, language, and lifestyle, and you will come home with a different viewpoint of the world and of yourself.

Traveling after graduation is a wonderful time to travel because you have successfully closed one chapter of your life-what an awesome way to open another chapter!

Traveling abroad is also a nice touch on a résumé.

Graduation is over; now get out there and let's see what you're made of!