As graduation season is upon us, you may feel like you are running out of time to do fun and exciting things, without having to worry about responsibilities such as family, work or living independently. Being released into the real world after four or more years in college is frightening for everyone; some of these fears are even rational.
However, you don’t need to fall into the daily grind of adulthood just yet. There’s still plenty of time to have fun and explore life as a young adult. Below are a few things you may want to check off your bucket list as soon as you graduate.
1. Travel… Alone
It may seem like a no-brainer, but many students miss this opportunity out of fear. Traveling with friends and family is always exciting; you get to experience new places, activities and food with the people you love the most.
However, when you travel alone you are completely exposed to are exposed to a way of thinking that you will not be able to reach if you constantly have loved ones by your side. On your own in a strange country, you might realize things about yourself you never noticed before.
In addition, you’ll be free to explore on short notice. When your travel party consists of a group, it takes plenty of time and energy to plan out a day of adventure. With friends or family, you are constantly weighing the opinions of others; sometimes, you might have to pass up a great opportunity because you hold the minority vote in the situation.
When you are on your own, however, it is a different story. You can wake up and make it your goal for the day to do something extravagant, or to do nothing at all. The best part is that you can do whatever you choose and not worry about stepping on someone else’s toes.
2. Become a Flight Attendant
Many young adults would want to get a jump start on your career after college and go into a field related to your major. However, it may also be in your best interest to start somewhere else. Perhaps start your career in the sky, as a flight attendant.
While it might seem like a random choice, this job can be a perfect fit for someone straight out of college. You will be on the road, or in the sky, for weeks on end.
Many people would find it difficult to travel so often when they have a family whom they cannot be away from for a long period of time It is hard for some people to do this job when they have a family and/or group of people they cannot be away from for a long period of time.
As a flight attendant, you will have the chance to travel all across the globe; what’s more, you’ll be getting paid to do so. In addition, you will meet hundreds of people from all over the globe. If you are working the right flight and/or airline, you may even find yourself running into a famous person here and there.
3. Get an Internship
For any recent graduate who hasn’t found a job for the next couple of months, it may be in your best interest to find an internship. Although you probably won’t get paid, working as an intern is a great learning experience.
For those who aren’t sure what they want to do with the rest of their life, an internship is a great way to try and find out. For example, if you are interested in the business field, you can spend the year after your graduation being involved in different types of internships including fields such as marketing, public relations and advertising, to get an idea of what exactly it is that you like about business.
Or even if you do have plans for your future career, an internship can provide work experience and maybe even connections to help you achieve your career goals. At the very least, it’ll look good on your future resume.
4. Develop a Workout Routine
There is no better time to focus on yourself than the summer after graduation. After all, you’re celebrating a great accomplishment; you might as well take some time off. Furthermore, while it is the end of one chapter of your life, it is the beginning of your life as an adult.
You should take advantage of this time by preparing yourself to be the best possible version of you. What better way to do this than establish a set workout routine? It may be difficult at first, if you are not an avid gym-goer. If you stick with it, however, it will surely be one of the best decisions of your life.
Maybe you could sign up for a gym membership; if you’re the sort of person who simply doesn’t like the gym, designing a routine to do in the comfort of your home can work just as well. But regardless of what you decide to do, you’ll want to do some research ahead of time.
Let the Internet be your best friend when figuring out what exercises, workouts and programs are best for you and your body type. Develop a routine that is reasonable, but will also challenge you. Don’t go too easy on yourself; if you stick to what you already could do you most likely won’t see much of a change. But don’t kill yourself, either.
Additionally, if you are nervous about starting this lifestyle change on your own, or if you would just like a little bit of extra motivation, do not be afraid to ask a friend or family member to join you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle. When they start to see the changes in themselves, they’ll thank you for it.
5. Learn Another Language
Most college students can remember having to learn a different language at some point during their education. If you didn’t have any language requirements in college, however, you might have forgotten your second language over the past few years.
After you graduate, you might want to take advantage of your newfound freedom to re-learn all the things you forgot from high school — or just learn a new language entirely.
The great thing about learning a new language these days is the fact that you can pretty much teach yourself. There are plenty of websites, programs and books that give you all of the tools you will need for the job. As long as you have the dedication to stick things out when they get difficult, you will be speaking a different language in no time.
Besides being able to speak to people in a different language and/or belong to a different culture, learning a new language can propel you to want to learn more about another culture or even travel to another country. What better way to learn a language than to go to its native origin to hear, listen and speak to people of that country?
If you are a recent college graduate and not sure what it is that you want to do for the next couple of months, or maybe even year, try giving one of these suggestions a shot. In their own way, they all provide outlets for creativity and growth, while also helping you prepare for adult life.
While they may not generate any sort of income, they can expose you to opportunities or give you a “leg up” when it comes to resumes and job interviews. Whatever it is that you choose to do, just make sure that it is the right decision for you, and the place you are in at that very moment.
