Jes says:
Tue, 19th May 20099:46 am 

Take a vacation! I just bought 2 tickets to Costa Rica (a relatively cheap international trip) right after my boyfriend graduated to give him (okay, me! lol) something to look forward to whilst trying desperately to find a job in this god-awful economy.

He's definitely got the post-graduationitis, but you gotta push though it and do fun things while reality's slowly setting in! Good luck!

SarahZM says:
Tue, 19th May 200910:03 am 

Jenni, you DEFINITELY need the book Grads Take Charge! http://collegecandy.com/2009/05/18/gradvice-your-…

Keightee says:
Tue, 19th May 200910:13 am 

Sorry to hear that you're having such a rough time. When I graduated in 2007, I thought my life was over because I was unemployed and watching a lot of Tyra. Even though I was pretty depressed, I searched online for jobs every single day. I realize a lot has changed economically since then, but don't underestimate websites like Careerbuilder (I found my job there) and Monster; a lot of companies really do use those sites.

Also, the best thing I ever did was take a chance on a job in a place where I knew very few people. Even though it was scary, it was also exciting and fun to find my way around and get used to being in my new 'home'. Keep your head up and best of luck!

rach says:
Tue, 19th May 200910:41 am 

holler at careerbuilder. that's where i found my job after i graduated last summer. you cant give up! you can do it! and those adult things your dad wants from you come with time. chin up. i swear, it only gets better!

Miah says:
Tue, 19th May 200910:48 am 

Im actually about to start college freshman year, you mean that after college Im going back to being awkward?

This is actually really heartbreaking.

Jen says:
Tue, 19th May 20097:20 pm 

It is the idiots who think that the fake reality that is the stupid ass Hills show that is what actual life is like is what is going to screw millions of girls from having productive lives. They buy into the hype of that show so much without even realizing that everything is paid for by MTV and all the situations written by writers. That is not reality.

Casey says:
Tue, 19th May 200910:00 pm 

OMG Jen! How many times can you say the word "is" in one sentance?! Good god! That actually hurt to read! And I'm still not 100% sure what you were trying to say.

Anyway! I think that's the problem with college today. It has that stigma that you can be completely irresponsible children and not have to suffer the reality of being an adult. A lot of people go through college experiencing real life in the process. all the people I know who stayed home to go to college (I live in a college town) are experiencing life as adults while they are attending college, they all have full time jobs, they all have their own apartments, and they are all excelling in school. The people I know who went away to college are flunking out, getting wasted every night, still depending on mommy and daddy, and will come home after graduation with no grip of what real life is like, and will consequently be just as miserable as you. Some people just need to learn that college isn't extended time to be immature teenagers, it's a chance to LEARN and that includes learning how to be responsible, functioning, adults.

Erin says:
Wed, 20th May 200912:33 am 

First off Casey, I do agree, but it's not all the students fault. As it was said in Futurama "College was extended Day-Care". It really is, most colleges treat the students like 10 year old, they ban anything that shows or talks about sex, they give you 1001 different people to whine to about you every need (help programs, counclers, groups, etc… to cope with nothing. Sheer stupidity, thats the problem that they have to be delt with and when you baby a 18 year old they expect it forever. I was sheltered but made the transition well into going out on my own. I thought the Bull-shit that the school offered in all aspects was so utterly worthless they could have saved us all money by doing away with the touchy feely crap they were panhandling to us. If you are that stupid enough to not know how a library works, perhaps you are infact retarded and should consider getting a GED, thanks RIT for explaing to me how a library works, DUH.

I graduated from college and lived with my annoying parents for a month, all I could stand, before i moved to NYC with my boyfriend who had also just graduated. I was so depressed when I was home. There was the lack of friends, lack of funds, lack of not nagging, lack of air conditioned rooms, lack of parents wearing clothing on hot days to cover old flabby bodies and two dogs that like to slobber, it was enough to entice me to look for a job everyday. I never got a mesaged back from the 50 places I looked for a job. I was unemplyable, I had never had a job and had a degree in Fine Art. Macy's in Herald square took a chance on me and I did seasonal visual merchanding there, gift wrap and worked at louis vouitton. Now after a year I work in the job I want. It takes a while. People our age must realize things are not easy, dream jobs and even jobs you like to do not instently happen, no matter what the fruity college counsler advised. As for all the other adult stuff, you eventually get some of it, Not everyone in america has health insurance, at 22 it's not that big of a deal unless you have health issues.

Shep says:
Wed, 20th May 20093:12 am 

I'm with you on missing college. College is without a doubt the most fun I've had, and the most difficult.

When I graduate I shared your feelings of being friendless, and longing for the time machine. You can't live depressed about graduation forever. The best part of being a graduate is now you can start your LAC (Life After College).

LAC can be exciting, think about it. You are ready to start the rest of your life! Now is the time to find your career, and let that degree begin to reward you for the work you put into it.

First, I'd start is the Career Center at your University. These people have plenty of contacts, and exist to find graduates jobs. They can help you writing your resume, and finding places to apply to.

Second, you need to find an immediate job. Even if its part-time, you need to be working. There are going to be bills that you will need to start paying, most importantly health insurance. As a graduate of college you can't be on your parents insurance anymore, and if you let the coverage lapse, when you get ready to apply for coverage again the insurance companies will battle you over any "pre-existing conditions" that you may have.

Third, you need to start going out again. Find some activities to do. Volunteer with a civic organization (park & rec, humane society, etc). Volunteer activities look good on a resume, let you meet new people, and give you something to occupy your mind until you gain full-time employment.

LAC is a new an exciting chapter in life, but not impossible. Best of luck!

Gaby says:
Wed, 20th May 20099:12 am 

Oh wow I thought I was the only one miserable..my fun filled days are spend on careerbuilder and watching desparate housewives! oh how I would give ANYTHING to go back to my freshman year! To think in just two weeks I went from an active fun co-ed to an unemployed couch potato. ( yes all my friends are across the state as well ) – good article misery loves company lol

kristen says:
Wed, 20th May 20093:23 pm 

You don’t have to find your dream job, but clearly sitting around the house isn’t working. So find a job, it might ease the transition a bit.

I also guess it depends what you majored in, because I was lucky enough to get a job straight out of school…but I know plenty of people working full time, who aren’t necessarily in their ideal job, or using their degree yet….so seriously, get off the couch and apply for a job

Thomas says:
Thu, 21st May 20091:55 am 

As a 33 year-old guy that graduated about 10 years ago, I can comment on some things.

First, friends. This is the devastating blow that most experience when they graduate from college. Friends head in every direction. So, you have to make new ones. In the real world, friends are harder to make than they are in college. Most people I talk to make friends at work. My work precludes that, unfortunately. So, I use meetup.com. Feel free to try that. I can’t speak for everyone, but I am still closer to my college friends than anyone that I have met in the 10 years since, so best of luck.

Second, work. Be prepared to question every major decision that you have made in your life. Why on earth did I major in ? The classes were interesting, but working in this field sure is boring. My recommendation would be to try out working for a few years, then if it is really awful, head back for graduate school. I made the mistake of going straight for a masters. So, if I change careers, then I have wasted that much more time. Up to this point, I have not changed. =)

Third, significant other. For me, this made up for everything else. I met someone fantastic and got married right after school. The person made up for my college friends not being around and for my disappointment with my job. It gave me a reason to wake up each day and look forward to life. We ended up splitting up, but it was great while it lasted. I think kids do the same. You have this to look forward and it is really awesome.

That is my experience. Friends become less of your life, job is disappointing, but meeting someone amazing and living with them makes up for it all. Of course, everyone is different. Maybe you will find a job that you love and make tons of great friends, but not meet that special someone for a while. You never know.

Good luck! I found it helpful to watch stuff like Garden State. Let me know that I was not alone.

Emily says:
Thu, 21st May 20099:34 am 

Wow. My entire life right now (minus the hummus. blargh). I don't think it has much to do with a lack of ambition as: I left a high schooler and then came back with all these new experiences that have changed me. It really feels like I just ended a 4-year-relationship that I put a whole lot of work and heart into and no one here really understands that. It sucks for all of it to end so suddenly … and I don't think anyone can blame us for that.

I too need to pull up my bootstraps and make a new life for myself, even though I'd take all that back in a minute

liberated college woman says:
Thu, 21st May 20092:00 pm 

Awww god. Life is so hard when you were privileged enough to attend a college, but not ambitious enough to do anything afterwards.

Aislinn says:
Tue, 26th May 200911:31 am 

Hang in there girl. I graduate a year from now but unlike many college students I haven't had a cushy babysat experience. It has at points been something akin to the fifth circle of hell. I pay bills, have my own place with my man, have pets, pay rent, go to school, work(often at unpaid internships), work a side job and occasionally attempt to breathe in between. I'm literally salivating at the idea of a real paycheck, however miniscule. Just hang in there, you will find something and this will all make you stronger.

Abby says:
Tue, 2nd Jun 20093:48 pm 

Thank you!!! This is killing me – there's just nothing out there…and with the amazingly unrealistic expectations I had leaving school, this is just an extra hard slap in the face!

regina says:
Wed, 10th Jun 20094:55 pm 

Casey and co. – get off your high horses. If you didn't have fun during college, I really wonder when you will. Life must suck being so miserable.

Mallory says:
Tue, 23rd Jun 20096:10 am 

Casey, you're a fucking idiot. I am in the SAME situation as Jenni. And I agree.

Oh, and the people who don't go away to college are mature and intelligent? I went away to college. I didn't flunk out. Jenni didn't either–obviously she graduated.

You're making absurd, unwarranted statements. I pity the people who will become your children.

Anita says:
Tue, 23rd Jun 20096:17 am 

I agree. The truth is, college is a time when people who go away to school are out on their own. They learn about emotional and intellectual difficulties in life. Everyone in my town who went away to school is much more mature than those who did not, because its a different lifestyle and many people benefit greatly from this lifestyle change.

Jenni is just going through transition problems, which will get better as she finds something to transition into.

If the "liberated college woman" were to become a "liberated normal woman" maybe she'd realize that in this economy, it's not ambition that Jenni is lacking. Its job opportunities.

I believe Regina said it best. Get off your high horses. You're bound to fall off and break your neck.

kg says:
Fri, 10th Jul 20099:56 am 

This article pisses me off. First of all, college did suck. Everyone seems to have this fantasy built up in their mind about college being the "greatest experience in the world," but it isn't; and I HAD friends. I could only imagine how it was for someone who didn't. I listened to that lie all through high school and felt guilty when I got there and thought, "this is it?" Incoming freshman, don't kid yourselves: college is nothing more than an idiotic numbers game and a pedestal for stuck-up professors who love the fact that they have power over a group of subserviant college students each semester. There are people that genuinely love learning and came for the right reasons; these people will succeed because they have the drive (even though the institution sucks). But for the other people, like the author and those who agree with her, college is just a big summer camp made for MTV, getting boligerant, and endlessly repeating the line, "I was so ripped last night." It's no wonder why you're having such a problem adapting after college. Maybe you should have spent more time on intellectual activities and less on screaming "woooo!" with a lampshade on your head for the last four years and your transition may be more enjoyable.

theclassof2009 says:
Sun, 16th Aug 20091:22 am 

I completely hear you. This whole shifting from college to reality has certainly been an adventure. As much as I feel better when I realize lots of people are going through the same thing, it is also pretty scary! What's going to happen to all of us?

lulwa says:
Thu, 17th Sep 200911:27 pm 

Dear Jenni,

Let me just thank you for sharing your "situation" with us and thank all of you guys for speaking your minds. I live in the Middle-East but let me tell you i feel like it might've as well been me expressing my feelings. I never cut my hair and last week i just chopped it all off- I think it's cause i've been so … sad lately.

I try to get through the day by doing

1- something i really enjoy (watching a romantic comedy)

2- something that makes me feel good (doing something nice for somebody.)

3- taking a risk. ( for example: yesterday i called the man i interned for 2 years ago asking him to hire me)

Unfortunately, like in the US and perhaps other parts of the world, there are very little job opportunities available.

So let me sincerely wish u all the luck and happiness in the world. I too am suffering, but i'm pretty sure we're both going to be ok sooner or later .

futuramaonline says:
Wed, 3rd Feb 20105:02 pm 

you have a good point here, gonna subscribe to your RSS

futuramaonline says:
Wed, 3rd Feb 20105:08 pm 

top notch, i really enjoyed reading this post

futuramalover says:
Wed, 3rd Feb 20105:13 pm 

loved the post man subscribed to your RSS waiting for more!

aislinn says:
Thu, 17th Jun 201011:05 am 

So remember how snub I was a year ago when I chirped at you about staying strong and you'll find something or whatever other BS irritating line I was using? Yeh, I take it back. I am a recent graduate and this sucks, hard core, lonely as shit, living at home sucks. I'm lucky enough to have a job but I'm pretty sure that reality TV sinks into your brain whether you like it or not and I too somehow believed that I was different then the rest of my peers and would have no problem attaining a stellar job right out of college ala LC. Instead I'm begging record labels to let me clean their toilets and watching reruns of the hills and episodes of intervention reminding myself that while I may not be LC at least I'm not the crack head on intervention…yet

Chris says:
Wed, 11th Aug 20101:42 pm 

Quit being a little baby. Growing up sucks. Get over it. You can't suck on your parents teet forver. Lemme guess, you didn't work in college? go figure. Get off your ass and do something. Life can be good if your not just sitting around all the time.

Ann says:
Tue, 21st Dec 20105:56 pm 

Haha, I feel you girl. T=

Kaylen22 says:
Sun, 16th Jan 201112:19 am 

Tell me about it… been unemployed for a year since graduation and I'm freaking out. No life (social included since all d friends i grew up with live overseas), no job, living at home with parents… oh dear god.
I get through the day by writing novels and I will be trying to publish them. It keeps me occupied so far, but still gets to me whenever im NOT writing…

carolinabenoit says:
Tue, 8th Feb 20116:17 pm 

wow hilarious and I can totally relate. I am also covered in Hummus, reloading facebook and wordpress every 5 minutes!