In order to graduate from a higher institution, various tasks must be completed. These tasks will test your faith and principles beyond one’s imagination. Two tasks that come into mind are late-night or early-morning study sessions and actively participating even when all you can think about is your bed in your dorm.

Oh, let us not forget the brave face one must have while attending networking events to create long-lasting connections for a chance of future employment at a well-known or start-up company.

I admit. It is a lot. However, the numerous sacrifices made become worthwhile when you cross the stage. Although graduating from college requires determination and discipline, it is an achievement that I am truly proud of.

Many start the journey, but very few see it through, and I am incredibly grateful to God for his favor and constant reassurance I am capable of complementing such a rigorous goal.

After graduation, I began to explore several questions like “How does graduating college impact personal development?” “Am I now qualified to walk on Earth with an arrogant mindset of untouchability” because my diploma says I know more than most in one area?

Certainly not!

While examining these questions, I also realized that various sectors of my personal development needed to be discovered and re-examined, which brings me to the three graduation advice that I want to share that I learned after college.

1.) Learning is an ongoing process. As mentioned earlier, graduating from college is not an achievement that anyone should undermine. If your family or friends try to do so, it is time to find new friends and time to distance yourself from those family members. I learned so much during quarantine, especially in the personal development and Christian sphere. I realized what role childhood trauma played and how much space it was taking up in my life. So much so, that I was determined to find a therapist and watch an extensive amount of YouTube videos on family estrangement, which I did.

I learned about communication, manipulative tactics that narcissists deploy, and the importance of boundaries and understood how to successfully prepare and answer interview questions, and the importance of showing up for yourself despite the thrill family members get when discussing your failures. I discovered the importance of Moses and his story in the bible, and how God is more than capable of doing more than you can imagine if you let go and give him your burdens. From Moses’ story, I learned I need to show up because there is a group of people in this world that I can only help or free from bondage by using the gifts that God gave me. Moses was the only person, despite his hesitation earlier on, who could start the journey to lead the Israelites out of bondage and into the promised land.

I learned to let go of old friends and associates because permitting them in my life would mean I was settling. I learned how to use Cash App to buy stocks, and most importantly, I learned to never put myself on the back burner. The reason you never stop learning is that just as seasons change from quarter to quarter, you do as well. Also, if you can admit that you don’t know everything at 22 or 23, this will allow you the room to grow. I am okay with not knowing everything. I want to learn new things and modify my habits. Another reason why I don’t mind learning is that I don’t want to be in the same category as an ignorant person who tends to be very narrow-minded.

2.) Survival vs. Long-Term Ideology: This idea was certainly applied when I was in boarding school. But even as I reflect on my college days, as a student, I and many others were just trying to survive to the next week, the next semester, and certainly the next year. I threw so much of myself into my student life, and it is expected and highly suggested, but you get so used to surviving classes, pinching your money, gas, and everything else that is part of student life. But, when I graduated, I had the time to really start looking at how I wanted to live my life. Did I want to take part in the stock market more aggressively and possibly build wealth that way? How do I set up a Roth IRA account? I had to switch gears from doing things on a daily basis that would prepare me for success in my academic life to doing things that would benefit me in the long run in my personal life.

I am so happy for some of the habits and routines that I have formed and implemented as an undergraduate student, but I had to learn what practices I can begin today to reap tomorrow’s rewards?

3.) No one is coming to save YOU! Ughh, this lesson is probably my favorite. I was listening to a Ted talk in which Ms. Mellody Hobson was speaking, and she said, “The moment you stop looking around and thinking about someone is coming to save you is when you realize it is up to you to chase your dreams and goals.” I watched the YouTube video sometime in 2020, and her words are still profound today. Don’t wait around for Prince Charming, your siblings, your favorite influencer, or even your parents to get going with your life. Everyone has some sort of baggage. My parents are divorced, and my father is unreliable at times, but here I am. It is unfortunate that some events happened in our lives. I believe God uses them to make us resilient and brave, as Ms. Shallon Lester said.

At the time, it doesn’t seem to be the case but keep pushing and believing in yourself. “No one is coming to save you” means to me that I have to disappoint people when they invite me to parties, weddings etc. because I have dreams and a purpose to fulfill. Death is coming, and what legacy will you leave for the upcoming generation? Yes, I can go and celebrate your big day with you sometimes, and other times, I would rather be working on my dreams. This kind of self-awareness and honesty with yourself is very important. 

I think I am going to leave these three here for you to digest. I have two more that I would like to discuss in another blog post. Writing my thoughts down has been so helpful, and I hope a sentence or two resonates with you at least until the next blog post. 

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