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Congratulations new graduates! You have entered the so-called “real
world” now that you’ve walked across that stage. You not only have
freedoms and rights, you have a certain amount of responsibilities that
you have to deal with. It won’t always be fun or easy, but if you learn
some important lessons early, it’ll make your life easier for years to
come. Remember that you’re young, strong and resilient, and you can
handle what life throws at you.
1. How to survive financially:
Unless you happen to be one of those people who got their lucrative
dream job out of college (or mommy and daddy are financing your life
still), chances are, you’re going to have to learn how to deal with
things financially. Here’s the smartest thing you can do: Go to a bank, a
credit union, a financial planning service, etc. and learn the truth
about your financial situation from day one. Whether its learning how
you’re going to manage your debts, or you’re tying to save money, or
you’re thinking of building wealth now, or all the above, don’t wait
until you’re older. If you can learn the practical things of adulthood
straight away, you’ll go far. Big pro-tip: From day one, apart from your
full-time job, get a side hustle.
2. How to make friends all over again:
If you happen to stay in the same place all your friends are, you’ll
probably struggle with this less. Even if this is your situation, it’s
still worth it to go out there and meet people because it’s easy to get
“stuck” in friend groups, even friend groups you keep mostly out of
convenience. If you move away from friends and family, welcome to the
first grade all over again. Here’s the thing: People are busy. And it’s
nerve-wrecking to be vulnerable with people as an adult, more so than
when you’re a child. It feels a lot like dating – and you might even
approach it the same way. Either way, know that as long as you’re open
and friendly and being the kind of friend you want to have, good people
will come in your life.
3. How to manage your boss and other office politics lessons:
The one thing almost nobody tells you about working in the real world
is that not only does your boss manage you, you have to manage him or
her as well. How do you do that? By being forthcoming in your
communication, anticipating their needs before they do and being seen as
someone who does more than just the bare minimum to get by. Even if
you’re not working at your dream job, even if you’re at a job you hate,
the best thing to do for your career in the long-term is to do good work
wherever you are. And treat everyone at your job with kindness, while
staying away from the D-R-A-M-A as much as possible.
4. The importance of creating a self that you’re happy with:
Being yourself is hard. People like to give you that piece of advice
because it seems like the right thing, but it’s worth coming to terms
that maybe your self isn’t only something that you realize, but
something that you choose; something that you create. You’re going to
feel lonely and like you can’t completely handle your life sometimes
during these years. That’s okay. Ask for help when you need it. There’s
nothing wrong with that. But pay attention to what and who you want
become and the kind of lifestyle you want to have – and focus on getting
that.
5. The advice to take and whose advice to leave behind:
When you’re young and impressionable, expect to get it from all
angles. That’s why I believe in listening to everyone’s kindly. But
taking it with a grain of salt. (And that goes for everyone who is
reading this too.) In the end, you’re going to have to learn that you
are the only one who gets to live with your decisions. So make sure that
you make choices that are best for you.
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