Serious Graduating... and anxiety

[Rydia]

Ok, so for the past few months, I've been very excited about graduating. I will have my masters degree (in Occupational Therapy) and I will never have to study for an exam, write long papers, or do time consuming projects ever again.

Well I had my last class ever yesterday, and I have had an increase in anxiety about actually graduating. I will have to do six months of field work (clinicals) in the summer and fall and then find a real job after taking a certification exam.

I have no idea why all of this is making me so nervous. I won't have trouble finding a job after all of this. (I'm already getting job offers). And I've already gone on level 1 field work which was once a week and I did good at each of my placements. It's strange because I almost wish I had another year of school <.<

 

[Warrior of Light]

I think it comes down to the issue of uncertainity. As humans we tend to like patterns, because we can anticipate and prepare for patterns, whereas something new, good or not, can make us nervous. The best thing to do in these cases is to prepare as best you can and then go focus on something else. It won't be easy, but nothing involving uncertainity generally is.

 

[Valvalis]

Congratulations on graduating! And it's great that you're already getting job offers. I remember when I got out of school it was a little nerve-wracking for me too, I think that may happen because as students we get used to having the structure of going to school on a regular schedule, and being graded by professors who can help you revise things when you make mistakes, and it's not actually being out in the real world just yet. If it's actually taking on the job full-time that you're nervous about, though, I wouldn't worry too much. The way I see it, if you're this worried about doing a good job, that means you really care about it and you will probably do fine; and like you said, you did well already on some field work, which is definitely a good start

 

[blakstang98]

Graduating can certainly be stressful, because the next step after graduating is diving into the real world. I'll admit that I never had such problems, as I was looking forward to taking on the real world, so I can't really give you any advice as to how you could approach coping with the nerves. The best I can tell you is that you'll do fine. If you have the intellect to get a Master's Degree Occupational Therapy, then you certainly don't have to worry about not being able to handle the job at hand. Maybe having the attitude of "grabbing the bull by the horns" will help make the process less painful.

The feeling of wanting to do more school is basically because you've done it for your whole life almost, so it's natural to just figure you're going back in September, when you don't have to. But now it's all done! I remember after I graduated and it just felt weird when September came around and I didn't have school. I was working in my college job full time at this point, so it's not like it was an extended vacation, but after going to school for 19 years myself, it didn't seem right. I just continued to work as if it was still summer, except the weather was getting colder.

But fear not Rydia! You'll do just fine in the real world, so don't stress out about it so much. Once you're certified, I think that'll give you an idea of how life will be with a career. Then you'll feel less anxious and be more willing to look at the future as a big positive step in life. But you'll do great. Congratulations!

 

[Robbiedbee]

I guess this is natural, Rydia. You will have a Masters degree, a whole lot of field experience and a few job offers, which is fantastic. You have clearly worked very very hard for a long long time, and now you are getting what you deserve, so congratulations. You are about to embark upon a whole new phase of life, and I'm sure it will be an enjoyable one.

I graduated after completing a degree in Chemistry last summer, and my problem was I didn't have any experience. I never had a Saturday job growing up or anything like that, let alone any field experience, so with me graduation marked the start of another little battle to find a job and see what I could do from there.

Either way, I think one more round of congratulations are in order. Well done Rydia!

 

[GBJoker]

I think it comes down to the issue of uncertainity. As humans we tend to like patterns, because we can anticipate and prepare for patterns, whereas something new, good or not, can make us nervous. The best thing to do in these cases is to prepare as best you can and then go focus on something else. It won't be easy, but nothing involving uncertainity generally is.

This is pretty much all of it. You're leaving something you know for something you don't know as well, at the very least, and at the worst, something you know virtually nothing of.

Only thing you can do is tell yourself in the back of your head and you'll get over it and survive it. You have to, or else you've quit and now wasted a massive amount of time and money.

PS: But no pressure. Really.

 

[Jamesy]

I feel the same. My last exam for my degree is on monday, after that I go say bye to my friends, pack my bags and go across the water (currently in England, going back to Ireland). Not sure if I even want to do that, but I can take a couple of months and earn some money while I'm at then decide what I want to do.

Its a change, and most people are uncomfortable with change, especially when University is a shelter from the real world for so many years.