I’ve Graduated. Now What?

Last Thursday, I finally got my diploma. Now it really feels like I have graduated.

I would show you my diploma, but it is still in the box that it came in, and I feel lazy. And since I paid for it to come with the frame, it is heavy, fragile and very pretty. I plan on taking a few photos, but the dress that I ordered still hasn’t come in. So just believe me when I say I graduated.

For a while now, I have wanted to talk about what I planned to do after I was done with school, but it never seemed like the right time. And honestly, there will never be a right time. So why not today, and will do a series about my university experience. I have stories to tell, and tea to spill. Hearing other peoples’ experience, from tv, books, real life, was completely different to what I experienced. And its okay because everyone’s experience is going to be different and what you make of it. I plan to talk about my experience, racial identity, how I failed a class, memorable moments, favourite classes, lessons I learned and anxiety. Honestly, the list could go on and on.

I want to share my experience with others and to look back on.

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Entering my last term of university, I had a laid out plan.

1. Good grades
2. Volunteer
3. Graduation
4. Summer Vacation
5. Job
6. Save Money
7. GRE/CFA Level 1
8. Grad school applications
9. Drivers License
10. Move
11. Get a car
12. Get a dog

It did not have to be in that order. I just wanted to accomplish these things in the next 2/3 years.

I decided I was taking a gap year. I did not want to go to grad school straight after undergrad. I wanted volunteer in the time between the term ending and graduation. After graduation, I would spend 2 months with my grandparents, come back and be an adult; take the GRE, signing up for the CFA level 1 in December, look at grad schools, look for a job and try to get my drivers license

That was all before Covid.

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Now, I have had to unfortunately adjust these expectations. I’m not giving up, just taking a longer route.

✓ Good grades : Obviously, the term did not end the way anyone expected it to. Little did I know that Thursday night, was going to be my last day of university. Everything shifted virtually. I thankfully finished with grades that I am proud of.

✓ Graduate : There was no real graduation (which sucks), but I still graduated. I am an alumni.

✗ Volunteer:Unfortunately, the office closed, so I was not able to volunteer. I was able to work on a project at the beginning of May for them which was nice, but since then nothing. I plan on searching for remote volunteer opportunities. So I will see how that plays out.

✗ Summer Vacation : I am stuck in Canada. Don’t know when I will leave. But as soon as I am able to, I will. I need to see my dog and this is the longest I have been without him.

❑ Job: Like I mentioned before, I am slowly looking for a job. I am trying not to rush into it, and instead enjoy that time of my life and believe that everything happens for a reason. Come August, I will become more proactive in that search, but I am trying to live in the moment right now and pretend like I am on vacation.

✓ Save Money: One of my new years goals was to open up a savings account, and put money aside. A few weeks ago, I finally started. Right now it has $1050. It might not be much, but its still something. And I gained 58cents in interest. I’m proud of those 58 cents. And hopefully when I do get a job, I can save more.

❑ GRE/ CFA Level 1: The GRE and CFA are two completely different exams. The GRE (Graduate Records Examination) is for graduate admissions, while the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is for those interested in finance. A lot of grad schools require either the GRE, GMAT or CFA level 1, depending on the program. Because I want to go to grad school, I plan on doing the GRE. Because I am interested in financial analysis and investments, I plan on getting that certification.

If everything is okay, I plan on doing the GRE in the fall, and the CFA Level 1 sometime in 2021. The CFA is harder and expensive, so I need to plan it properly. Early registration is USD $700, standard USD $1000 and late USD $1450. As much as I would love to do it this, I cannot afford this.

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These next few goals, are a bit more loosely planned and it all depends. Nothing is set in stone. I am just taking one day at a time

❑ Grad school applications: I need to start looking into which schools and programs I’m interested in and the requirements.

❑ Drivers License: I need to get my driver’s license. I have been procrastinating for a long time.

❑ Move: I love where I live now, but I want to experience what its like to live somewhere else, and on my own.

❑ Get a car: Goes along with drivers license. it will allow me to be more independent, offer me opportunities and less excuses.

❑ Get a dog: Goes along with moving. There’s just something about having a doggie that I want. I can’t take my dog from my grandparents because thats just mean, so I will compromise and get my own in Canada. And god forbids, if anything happens to them, I will take him.

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I know this is long and I’m probably crazy, but I have a plan with my life. I want to accomplish things. I have dreams. And I am not going to give up on them. Life is full of compromises and I don’t mind adjusting.

My story has just started.