After College

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Life goes on, right?

[JackOfHearts]

Life is what you make of it. It goes on whether you do or not, but it is so much more fun to go on rather then doing nothing.

[Empty Wallet]

Life goes on, right?

You could always join the faculty, then have kids, then have kids take up fencing.

Then there is no life.

[semihippie]

I just graduated too. I'm getting a masters degree next year though so...

[Nolano]

After college I will become the greatest epee fencer in the history of the world. You'll see. I'll make Kolobkov look like a chump.

[bigdawg2121]

I think it does. Although I'm still in the hanging out with friends and going out b/c nothing better has turned up phase. I'll also still be here probably when I do start working....I sure hope it does though.

[KD5MDK]

Define life? I'm still breathing, have a heart rate and nervous system activity. I'm still an active USFA member. Other than that...

[akaiyuki]

Garrgh you people that get out early. I still have two more midterms next week... and then finals... and then I graduate. -__-

[Epee_Pox]

Life gets so much better after college. School's over, you can finally start living your life! College is just a holding pattern before you get to go out there and start really living.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I have definately help a loss of purpose in the month that I have been finished. Frankly, I think I was a more productive employee when I was taking 13 hours of college and juggling my job.

Fortunately, my stress level has reduced and I am no longer have heart attack symptoms, so I'll take it.

So far, I am using my new found time to brush up on some books I've wanted to read. I am currently working from Hood by Stephen Lawhead. Myrddans, have you heard of him? He writes Celtic fiction, and might be something that interets you.

[Phaeton]

"Shall we go"
"Yes, lets go"
They do not move

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Wait...there is life after college?

****

[Elendae]

I certainly hope so... but I won't find out until I'm at least 34...

[Sword Hobbit]

I Hope so...Cause I'm going to have to give allot up to get there.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Wait...there is life after college?

****

So far I've been sick the entire time.

[magic_moose]

So far I've been sick the entire time.

Well, at least you know, there is no where to go but up from here!

[glowstix]

Life goes on, right?

actually they say life begins at 30..at least that's what i'm hoping and so i'm looking forward to it.

actually how your life seems right after you graduate depends on what you have lined up afterwards. if you have a job lined up already then life is good. if you don't and/or not completely sure what's going to happen then it could be the most difficult time you've experienced so far.

most of us struggle to get the first job with no experience then when you do find something it's the sh*ttiest job ever for no pay. fencing may have to end for a while..it did for me, for a whole YEAR!! then later on we get lucky and find something more to our liking and have built up some experience that we use as leverage into the next job..and the cycle repeats as they say, and it gets easier.

on your first job you'll soon realize that you actually have to go every day without fail. its not like your part time job while in school or summer internship..those end in a few months. now, its for the next 35 yrs!! you'll find out:
1. you're not as smart as you thought;
2. if you've attained a higher academic qualification than your boss/coworkers, they'll resent you for it and make you feel like you should know everything and use every opportunity to let you they still know more than you;
3. when you do well, few notice..when you screw up, everyone notices;
4. don't count on company training;
5. your school did NOT prepare you for the workplace; you'll apply approx. .18% of what you learned on the job. everything else you learn from now on is from mistakes..hopefully ones not too catastrophic.

either way, at the end of the day, its still better than school. you'll have less close friends but lots of acquaintances. you'll also be able to buy all the cool FIE gear and not blink either. first thing i did was treat myself to a new kit,

[seven6ty]

Life sux after college, nevarrrr graduate!

[needle]

1. you're not as smart as you thought;
2. if you've attained a higher academic qualification than your boss/coworkers, they'll resent you for it and make you feel like you should know everything and use every opportunity to let you they still know more than you;
3. when you do well, few notice..when you screw up, everyone notices;
4. don't count on company training;
5. your school did NOT prepare you for the workplace; you'll apply approx. .18% of what you learned on the job. everything else you learn from now on is from mistakes..hopefully ones not too catastrophic.

These are good
Oh, and of the .18%, it's going to be the .18% you least expected or wanted. I hated the course on numerical methods with burning passion, and loved stochastic differential equations. Now, guess which one I'm still using nearly every day.

[Fencergrl]

Life sux after college, nevarrrr graduate!

I graduated early last year to semi-retirement. I only work at what I enjoy and have lots of time off. If you can swing this as early as possible it is indeed the "good life".

Glow: Good points. I might add, that it's a good idea to take chances with ever possible. Challenge yourself with the jobs you take. I switched jobs every 3-5 years to build a broad base of experience and to keep things interesting.

The best time to get a raise in salary is when you're applying for a job. Statically speaking, people who switch jobs often make more money than those that stay with a company a long time.

Re: Finances... Buy as little as you can on credit. Live a simple life and live within your means. Don't try and keep up to the lifestyle of your friends, you have no idea how far in debt they are because of their lifestyle. Save up for retirement and do your homework on large purchases such as land, houses and vehicles.