Graduation - the long anticipated feeling at the end of your undergraduate degree, the feeling of relief as you made it through challenging moments, late-night essays, group projects, and weekly lectures. But what about the feelings following post graduation that aren’t really talked about?

I enjoyed studying psychology at the University of Waterloo – campus felt like a second home, my courses inspired me and motivated me to make a difference in the lives of others, and weekly social events made me feel connected. I enjoyed studying, writing essays, and being on campus, coffee in hand, looking at the geese and buildings that surround me. I felt inspired, excited about a future in Psychology, and happy for what is to come. Graduation came faster than it felt, 5 years had gone by so quickly. I remember graduation day. I was proud of my accomplishments, high grades, and surviving every academic year when it felt like I wouldn’t. But, this feeling quickly turned into a bittersweet feeling. I missed my university life. I longed to return to university for my masters degree in counselling psychology only to be rejected during my first cycle of applications. It was discouraging, my dreams felt crushed, and I was really upset for a while. But I remembered a quote that I always lived by while in university, “May we never lose the drive to pursue the things we love no matter how bumpy the road is.” I’ve always loved school. There’s something about learning something new every week, my presence on campus, and the dreams I have that have always kept me going. I decided to reapply for my second cycle of graduate studies. Currently, I feel hopeful and excited about my future as a graduate student.

Here are a few strategies I have learned in my post graduate life:

Follow your dreams no matter what happens. My dream of being a psychologist has remained in my heart for many years and I learned to stay connected and inspired by this dream. Re-writing my personal statement and brainstorming why I was drawn to psychology initially has helped me.
Look around at others living your dream. It has helped me to become inspired by other therapists and graduate students around me. I follow many psychology pages on Instagram for tips, advice, and inspiration. Even my volunteering as an administrative coordinator with Fancy Therapy helps me to stay inspired by my team and learn about the field.
Self-Care. Do something you love every week. I like to read books, go for walks, listen to music, and spend time with my significant other. Doing things that make you feel happy and give you purpose has helped me to not feel burnt out or ruminate on the past (especially my first round of graduate applications). It has allowed me to remain calm, grounded, and happy while navigating post graduate life.
Work. I decided to work full-time in retail to give me a daily routine and stay connected to my community in Waterloo, both have helped me to stay motivated to continue following my dreams. I know that my current position is not forever and I remain excited about my journey as a psychologist.

Your journey towards the career you see for yourself can be really challenging. It comes with joy, failure, learning, rejection, and so many other emotions. I’ve learned to always follow my dreams even when it feels impossible and that the little things in life truly make a difference. Just writing my personal statement while a candle is lit helps me to feel relaxed and helps me realize how inspired I am by psychology. Life is full of ups and downs, it is like a rollercoaster of emotions. Your 20s are not easy. I have learned to embrace these hardships, look forward to the happy moments, and stay motivated by my journey.

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