TL;DR: Life in university was perfect. Friends, walkable campus, amenities, physical activity. Since graduating, struggling to achieve same level of happiness as I had. Life is good, but good will never beat perfect. How to move on, try to achieve happier years?

Graduated University in June of 2024 and still struggling to live up to the happiness that I once had. I've heard so many people say "college will be the best years of your life" and I truly hope that it's not true, but more and more I've been scared that they will be.

In the 5 years I was in school, I lived with my best friends, and a 10 minute walk away from the rest of my best friends. I was physically active multiple times a week, going to the gym, playing intramural sports, etc. I went to a campus everyday that was walkable, had great food, constant social events, and every amenity I could ever need within a 10 minute walk. I was hanging out with my friends and girlfriend every single day. I enjoyed learning new things, putting new skills to use, and having structure and purpose in my life. All in all, it was literally the perfect life for me. I was really really happy during those years.

Since graduating, I've moved back into my parents' house. Some friends live nearby that I see maybe once or twice a week. I see my girlfriend most weekends as she's still in school. I know that what I miss most about uni life is spending time with my friends, so I've been making a big effort to see them. Trying to plan big get togethers once a month, etc. But going from seeing friends every day to once/twice a week has still been a difficult change.

Objectively, my life is great right now. I have a cool job involving travel lined up for this summer, I'm in a happy relationship, I've picked up some hobbies that I dropped due to school being too busy, I'm seeing friends atleast once a week. Nevertheless, I'm still struggling with comparing my life to how it used to be. Life right now is good, but it's hard to beat how it was when it was literally perfect. I'm grateful that I had such an amazing time in school, but now that shift is making me really miss how life used to be.

How do people move on from an amazing life in school? How does one make sure that their college years were not the best years of their life?

Hello I'm a 16 y/o deciding on what I want to do for the rest of my life I have a passion for creating things to I want to focus on things of that nature like animation. I do wanna create my own show/manga like every teen and I understand that it'll take years of trails and tribulations but all I want to do is see a piece of my imagination on a screen, it doesn't have to be good nor popular. I took animation classes last year and I was pretty good at it, I don't draw the prettiest pictures but when I put it in an animation, it just a masterpiece to me. Mb I'm yapping, I want to do animation but I'm broke as shit and can't afford a tablet and stuff, and I'm researching this stuff and it just seems like a big scam going to collage just to get stuck with dept and not even finding a job. Animations good but is it even stable. I don't really know how life works after highschool, do I get a job and do animation as a side gig, or should I just say "Fuck it all" and work as some dumb factory worker like my dad SLAVING away and slowy dying working for some company. HOW DO YOU PEOPLE EVEN HAVE MONEY FOR A HOUSE WITHOUT A JOB.

I just need guidance and Im so confused and scared. I know that I have to be brave and face the challenges but I don't wanna fuck up my life doing sum I don't wanna do

Last year I finished my undergrad in biology and social science. It was truly the best years of my life, and I believe my social identity was closely tied to that experience.

After a pretty serious break-up and having drained my savings due to the cost of living while studying, I've moved back in with my family in the countryside. It's near-rural and 5 hours away from the closest city. The population isn't terribly small but it's demographic is retirees or families. The only work here is in aged care, health and youth education. Once you turn 18, you basically pack up and leave. Even the local McDonalds is run by people in their 60s.

I was fortunate enough to finally find a casual job at a bank after two months of job searching. Even the local supermarket wouldn't hire me. The job is low hours but living rent-free with your grandparents means I can save every penny. To fill in the extra time, I've enrolled in a teaching support course at the local community education centre.

My plan is to buy a car and save through 2025 so I can cover the insane cost of finding and securing accomodation in the city. There, I will hopefully find work in high schools and then pursue a masters in teaching which, alongside my undergrad, will qualify me to teach in upper high school levels. After a decade of that, I would like to try my hand at education roles in universities since I love everything about universities - the phsyical space, community, impressive people etc.

My only problem right now is dealing with post-grad depression, getting over my ex, and insane lonliness. I'm not lying when I say there is no one remotely close to my age over 18 in this town, except for the occasional tradesman who'd rather talk about beer and sport than science and art. I've lost contact with the majority of my friends due to moving away, the break-up and physical distance (Australia is massive, especially without cheap transport and free time). I still have friends I can talk to online, but nothing compares to in-person friendships.

Any advice for how I survive this year?

Hi! I'm an F1 student graduating in May with a Chemistry degree. I didn't apply to graduate school (I know please don't say I messed up) but I honestly wasn't ready to embark on that journey year and I'm not sure if Chemistry is right for me. I cant go back home and I'm looking at the job market right now and it's dismal. Do you guys have any advice of opportunities available to me so I don't end up homeless? I have a lot of research experience and have interned at places like Hopkins and Stanford. None of my job applications seem to be getting me anywhere.

I’m not sure where to look for answers or if this is even the right subreddit to be asking this, but I’m just looking for some financial advice lol. Basically, my dad has fallen for a romance scam over the past year that made my family and I lose everything. We’re currently trying to sell our house because we’re facing forclosure from 2 companies that we are indebted to, and we don’t know where or how we’re going to find a place to live and pay for bills since we probably won’t get any money from the house sale. I just graduated high school over the summer, and although I have a full time job at a grocery store, it isn’t enough to pay for our expenses.

All I want right now is to help my family become financially stable since I also have 2 younger siblings. But, I’m so lost on where to get started.

If anyone has any advice on how I could start making more money to get out of this mess, I’d really appreciate it, thanks and have a great day!

Context i am a poorly socialised person i want to get back to going to youthgroup but im about to go afe 18 in march graduate in june but i dont want to go back to being alone at this point i could care less that they think im too old for youth group but i dont want to be lable posible pred eventhou im just trying to socalise again

Just finished up a degree, and feel so burnt out. I feel so pressured to find work immediately and am scared if I don't then I will be left behind in life, etc. Just curious if any of you took a break after graduation, and if you were in a better position for job hunting or working after the break?

I (23m) struggle seeing all my hometown friends going back to college whether they're finishing late or in grad school. By any means I don't blame them and recognize how selfish it is to want to spend more time with them while I'm stuck here. Of course we're all on different life paths and that doesn't define or need to change a friendship. I've been the one going to college, while they've stayed here before so I have zero right to be upset honestly. But it doesn't change how much it makes me realize my own state of loneliness that I'm desperately looking to change even more right now. I spend most of my time alone in my room, every single day either applying to things or playing video games because my temporary part time job (while I find something in my career) gives me a borderline illegal amount of hours (12-16). And it sucks. I'm tired of living this way. I apply to things out of desperation for change, yet nothing has happened. And while I finished all my classes, my uni always finds a way in keeping me enrolled (mainly due to poor advisement, now my credits are just taking forever to transfer) so they're holding back my degree that I worked my ass for until MAY. So seeing my friends go back leaves a huge rift in my gut, I feel like I'm falling behind and that I'm failing. They're all busy and have a schedule. I go to bed at 4 am every night because I don't have anything going for me at all. And what the same time, what's even stupider is I want to leave this place and move in with my boyfriend, but I don't want to leave those same friends behind and I'm afraid I'll just be rotting there, with no opportunities in that same city. I don't know what to plan for anymore. I feel broken. I lost my purpose ever since I got laid off from my last career based job.

Hey all, I'm a 21 year old female in my last semester of university. I'm studying accounting with a minor in business analytics in the middle east. I'm a canadian citizen so I plan on going back to Canada to get my CPA and masters and was just wondering if anyone can give me advice on a few things. For further context I would ideally like to work in Ontario or Alberta but if you think there are better places to work as a new grad please let me know.

1. Which city is the best with regards to opportunities and salary for new grads
2. Does GPA really matter for accounting new grads
3. Public vs private accounting firms which do I have a better chance of getting hired
4. Should I get a car? Do you feel like it's necessary? Or should I wait to be earning a certain amount before I get one
5. Is it realistic for me to expect to be living without a roommate? Because in all honesty the main reason I'm rushing to leave my house is because I would really like to live alone and not deal with anyone or their problems because having to deal with my family has taken a huge toll on me. I feel like even if I'm struggling in other regards, knowing I'm coming home to an empty house is worth every bit of it.
6. Should I be saving money in my early career? Like is it realistic for me to expect to be able to put money into my savings?
7. Since quite a few companies cover the cost of getting your CPA, should I find a job first before registering or I should begin the registration process now? If I start it now will I be reimbursed if I find a job later?

I know this is a lot, but I'm feeling so anxious about the future because I realized I have nooo cluuee on what I'm supposed to be doing or how to really function completely on my own. I do have some savings from my mom's inheritance, some is with my dad (I don't know how much) and about 8K CAD is with me which isn't much (i think). I'm not really sure if my dad will be helping me much while I'm there because from the conversations we've had it doesn't seem like he'll be of much help but I don't want to go into this next stage of my life expecting him to give me a little boost only for him to not help because I've learned to keep my expectations low when it comes to him. Thanks for reading :)

Hello, I F 23 recently graduated in May and have been in the one of my worst periods of depression I’ve had since being in highschool. College was never really that great for me, I struggle with general anxiety and social anxiety and to be frank the first 3 years of undergrad sucked. I could say I’m fairly smart in that I never struggled academically. I was a mathematics major and while yes I had hard classes I never really had to study and my concern was never not passing but wheather I’d get an A or an AB in the class. I didn’t have many friends I was too afraid to do anything alone including eating.

Just to give an idea of how bad my anxiety is, I started seeing a therapist my first semester of freshman year to help with my anxiety but mostly in a desperate state of need because I lost nearly 20 lbs in my first semester simply because I had too much anxiety to go get food, even off campus, and lived off of a case of coke and the few frozen meals my dad bought for me when I came home on the weekends.

This therapist wasn’t my first one I ever saw but she’s been the best and I still see her till this day. After 3 years she finally convinced me to try anxiety meds going into my senior year(I was very against it because my parents forced me to be on them when I was in middle/highschool for obvious reasons). Anyways I got prescribed Cymbalta and it was the greatest thing that happened to me. My energy was through the roof, I wasn’t sad any more, I was working out and starting out my senior year of college I even made (somewhat they were my roomates friends) 4 friends. This made my senior year an absolute blast. I was going out Thursday-Saturday the weekdays were filled with hangouts late night study sessions I even met a guy and was going on all sorts of dates. All things that my anxiety filled self could never have dreamed about when she spent the first 3 years crying herself to sleep.

However second semester came and while things were still great 1 friend dropped out, another (my roommate) started a fight with my boyfriend over me and stopped talking to me altogether(a story for another time), and the other was in a hell of a semester in nursing school. While I still had my 1 friend and my boyfriend I was having to practically beg for my friend to do anything bc she was so busy studying and my and my boyfriend and I pretty much agreed that it was a fwb situation because we couldn’t commit to the long distance after graduation (well he couldn’t I could). And so while my senior year was still great I started to dread the end more and more because for the first time ever I was loving life.

Every day was still roughly a great day. Until graduation came. Due to a miscommunication I had a horrible anxiety attack on my graduation day. My makeup was ruined I was crying when I grabbed my diploma, I don’t have a single picture I liked and didn’t even post that I graduated anywhere. I hate this day so much, what I spent 4 years working for ruined by my stupid anxiety. My 1 friend moved back home and a few weeks later my boyfriend ended things.

I applied for jobs hoping to do something related to math, and I got a job within two weeks of graduating as a software engineer and I was ecstatic they told me my job would involve math . I’m making more money than I ever dreamed I’d start out at as a new grad. Except I’ve spent every day since graduating in tears. I thought I was hiding it well but one of my coworkers pulled me aside and told me he was there for me to talk to if I ever thought about doing something stupid to myself. And my dad who would never ever let me quit a job without another lined up told me to quit because the stress was going to kill me. But I’ve been stick it out for the pay, bullheaded like my dad. Everyday I leave work exhausted mentally drained that this is my new reality. It’s not that my job is hard per se but just draining. I stare at a computer for 9 hours and have maybe 20 minutes of social conversation a day. There’s not even a full 9 hours of work so 6-7 of these hours are with NOTHING to do. And the other 2-3 hours is being asked to do stuff that I don’t know how to do that isn’t related to math that I struggle to figure out. The social isolation and lack of work is not great for someone with the level of anxiety that I do.

I’ve tried a handful of new meds but nothings helped and I’m back to what I was on before when I was happy. I’m back in my hometown with no friends. My mom always tells me to reach out to people from highschool or go on a dating app, but I was bullied all throughout highschool and I’m still not over my ex enough to start dating again. When I can I go back up to college to see my one friend who’s taking a fifth year, but I always end up an emotional mess reminiscing on what I once had.

I get so angry at myself and the world that my first three years of college were spent alone in my dorm. And that when I had finally made friends and had better control of my anxiety I had less that a year to enjoy it. I mean hell even my ex who was 31 has friends from highschool he hangout with weekly. It’s been 7 months since graduating and I’m still sad.

I truly do have a passion for studying mathematics and have long considered pursuing a PhD in mathematics. Although I was discouraged by my advisor to apply as she said our school isn’t good enough for me to get into a grad program let alone any of the schools I wanted to apply to. This was despite me having a 3.9 gpa and spending 2 years working as a math instructor in undergrad. I talked with my therapist and I figured I’d take a gap year save money and reapply. I was dead set on it too, wrote my personal statement got the information in order except I never got my letters of recommendation to send everything in. Because I realized that I couldn’t live off the stipend a PhD program provides and wouldn’t be able to have a well enough job to afford living. So for now my gap year has turned into a two year gap.

I spend all my free time stuck in near debilitating and existential dread of where I belong and what I should be using my life for. I’ve been trying to chase the high that was my last year of college and nothing compares. I’m left with just memories as a painful reminder of what was and what will never again be.

I’ve been really trying to push myself to do self care, I’ve bought some books some math some non fiction and have been reading a little each week. I try and do skincare and makeup to make me feel better about myself. Perhaps spending a little too much here and there in hopes that the material items will help me feel something. But it’s not enough to pull me out of my depression.

I guess I’m looking for advice of how to deal with the post grad blues? I thought things would get easier as time moved on but it’s just gotten worse.

TLDR: Been horribly depressed since graduation, not sure how to continue.

I really miss college. Meeting new people. Not knowing the future. It was like the happiest time of my life.

Anything similar i can do to satiate the longing?

I thought I knew myself a few years ago after graduating and journaled daily. What I saw was something enlightening because what I felt wasn't necessarily what I was writing down and eventually it came to a point where I needed to take a step back and fully realize myself.

I took a leave of absence from work and started writing about ways that could help me. I'm not perfect today, but I don't think things are ever meant to be 'perfect'. I think I'd go insane if my finish line was to be perfect. Instead, my success comes from looking at the finish line and knowing that there will be days when there are only checkpoints, which is okay.

I came up with a workbook that could help others the way it helped me.

My Etsy is CrescentMoonFindsCA - DM me for a specific link.

Sorry I know this is really long but it's hard to explain everything in a short way. 😭

tldr: I'm disappointed because my college experience isn’t what I wanted. forced to commute tough, haven’t moved on from high school. feel too undeveloped for a college freshman

I'm not sure if this is the right community to post because I'm still in school, however I feel like my problems fit the most in this group

I recently graduated high school last spring and started my freshman year of college during the fall. My college experience is not going the way I wanted it to. I commute to a school thats 25 minutes away from where I live. I only have my permit so I get dropped off by my parents. It makes me feel miserable.

Throughout high school (and even before then) I would over-romanticize college. Don't get me wrong I was nervous to grow up, i've always been, but at the same time I was so excited for a new start. For freedom, for a new environment, for a life thats mine and not anyone elses anymore. I remember when my sister first started college when I was a preteen, I saw her life change and how much she grew.

In high school, I had similar feelings. I used to look up colleges during class and look at everything that colleges had to offer. I would tour colleges and have the feeling of excitement. Whenever I would have a mental breakdown in high school or feel disappointment, I immediately thought of college and the new start I would have. It was scary, but exciting.

But at the same time, I grew so much in high school. The pandemic hit when I was in 8th grade and my entire freshman year of hs was online, so when I went inperson sophomore year I felt like I was in a whole new world despite being in the same district. I became friends with people I never was friends with before, I went through moments I never went through as a kid, I found interests and connections I never had. High School was not perfect, I had a lot of lows and moments that I'm glad are over, but at the same time I had a lot of good and transformative moments that made me grow a lot as a person.

Why am I not feeling so much the same about college? Months ago when college decision due dates were coming up, I still didn't know where to go. I wanted to go on college tours but my parents were like "No, I'm busy" or "Why don't you settle in with this school?" or "No that school is too far." I don't understand. My sister was allowed to dorm for her first year, but my parents were so against it for mine. I had to settle in commuting to the school I currently go. (me and my parents had a bunch of arguments during senior year about college, they kept stressing me about college)

I don't hate my current school. I like the school, I like the campus, the class sizes, the friends, some memories. But I don't feel like I'm growing. I plan on transferring for sophomore and this was something I knew for a long time. I always wanted to go at least away from home, for new experiences, for new freedoms, for a new version of myself. I feel miserable, I've been seeing the counseling center and my school.

I don't feel like I'm moving on from high school. Theres always the saying of "peaked in high school!" and it's making me feel worse about my problems. I feel like I can't talk about this without people saying "you peaked in high school." I do miss high school, and I did grow a lot and have good moments, but it wasn't perfect. I had a lot of lows and parts of my life I wanted to change (and some parts that I'm still going through now unfortunately)

I feel like my life was better months ago when I was still in high school, which I feel sad. I always saw college as an opportunity to grow and be a better version. However being forced to commute under my parents rules and having no "college-aged" life is making me feel worse. I did not peak in high school, I just think I'm not living the college way I want.

Another crisis I'm having is just growing up. I don't know how to act. As a kid I over romanticized high school and not being in it anymore feels so weird. I don't think my problems are that different from a high schoolers, I mean when I see high school media I'm like "that was my life recently, it's not that different from now" (i mean i'm still a teenager going through teen problems) However I'm scared that I might me immature. Am I supposed to have the same maturity as an upperclassmen?

It also really makes me upset when I see people talk about their college experiences and maturity. I hate when people expect me to fit into those boxes of maturity. "Oh but you live alone freedom" "You have parental freedom" "You dorm" I'm a commuter with no freedom and I hate it.

I plan on transferring for my sophomore year, maybe then I'll get the college life and growth I always wanted.

I just needed to vent, ty

I’m currently looking into applying to law school in 2-3 years, but I work a full-time banking job and would like to finish my time there for continuing to further my education.

I’m looking into applying to an E program not for the benefit of my résumé but rather to squeeze in allocated time into my busy days to further my knowledge in the legal field, and hopefully even prepare me a little bit more for my LSAT.

Not sure if anyone’s been in this position, but would you argue that this is a good way to go about things in benefiting my education while working? Also if anyone’s done an eLaw certificate program, did it help you as an additional resource for prepping you to apply for law school?

Hey guys, title says it. I got a decent job (albeit overworks me) but got placed in the second starting cohort. This means I won’t start until basically November. Part of it is good cause my cousin is having a wedding in September that I wouldn’t have accrued PTO days by, but also, idk what to do with so much time!

I’m traveling with family from right after graduation until first week of June, and was thinking abt solo traveling or meeting some friends abroad for a week after that.

I’m also considering birthright even though I’m not religious at all to take advantage of the opportunity, but that’s only ten days.

What else should I do?

My university was in the suburbs of the main city I’ll be working in.

TLDR: I will be working from home. I am moving towns with my partner who can financially support me, but I don't feel ready to leave my social life I have here. I only just got one.

Hello!

I graduate from college this semester. Tomorrow is my last first day of school for the rest of my life. I'm getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in Illustration and Ceramics.

I know I will be fine financially. My partner and I have long term plans together, and he already has a job lined up for post graduation. We will live comfortably if we budget ourselves. No plans for kids, just two cats. We have plans to get me an at home ceramics studio sorted out.

I know I will physically and financially be fine.

What scares me is the social aspect. We are moving to a dying town one state over. He will only be working at this plant for a year or two before the company moves him, but the town is dying with little to no art scene.

I was in marching band my first three years of college, and a music fraternity for the last few years. I left both of those early to focus on getting my degree (getting an art degree is hard, believe it or not). In both groups, I never really felt like I belonged. They were fun and I loved them, but it was more of a family thing than a friend thing, if that makes sense. I'm on the spectrum and have always struggled a bit with making friends, and even being able to tell if someone is my friend.

This past semester I was able to focus on making connections with my classmates for once, and now have a good friend group. We play DND, most of us are illustrators. But I only just now got the social part of college I've been waiting for, and I'll be losing it in just a few months.

I'll have them as online friends, but I need in person interaction outside of my partner. Working most service jobs while I build up my art career is almost out of the question due to my autism (I had panic attacks and meltdowns frequently while working food jobs before).

Have any of you guys managed a social life while working remotely? I will still be playing DND with my friends, just online via Discord, but I am afraid of becoming isolated in my home and being far away from everyone. The town we are moving to had an arts council but it recently disbanded.

https://youtu.be/1BsyY99RCCo?si=H0ZxkwmJYL-eWGgl

I (31) made the mistake of getting a BA in political science when I was younger. For me, it was a really bad decision as it had a very high opportunity cost. Instead of getting a degree that opened doors I was interested in or taking the necessary pre-req courses for a professional program I just got a random BA and it hasn't helped me that much. I didn't realize government jobs were impossible to get and that working an unskilled corporate job wasn't that great. I work for a bank and wish I could do more with my life :(

It has however led to feelings of of burnout, depression. The student debt I had from it really hindered me at times as I never did get to travel to Europe or save up for a car because of it. Luckily I've paid it off now but it really limited my ability to accumulate wealth.

Sorry for going on. I'm not against university, I'm just against doing it without being smart about it. I'd give anything to redo a lot of my post-secondary choices.

 Im not looking for a pity party because it’s on me for doing fuckall in highschool but I’m class of 2025, I graduate in 5 months. I have not a clue about who I am and my skillset (besides maybe building things?) I have a GPA of 2.3 and I doubt college is the path I will be taking. I have no idea what I’m doing after Highschool and I’m getting kicked out immediately after graduation, my mom wants nothing to do with me. I’m on my own. Part of me wants to take my dad down with me if I’m going down. I have not taken life seriously up to this point and now im faced with its overwhelming consequences. I dont know where to start with trades, welding schools, or colleges. I need to find something that will provide me with honest work and housing. I cannot end up on the streets sucking homeless dudes off (like my dad keeps mentioning, must be his weird fetish.) I am a military dependent (losing dependency after graduation too) I do not want to join the forces but if it comes down to it then I’ll have to. Does anyone have any word of advice for me? Sorry if this seems like a senseless post. Much Appreciated.

With a comm degree what kind of careers in the entertainment industry could I get? I’m more interested in theatre/flim/directing that kind of stuff but my choice school doesn’t have any of those majors. Would a comm degree be useful in this industry?

After finishing my (23m) final in-person class class last May followed by a study abroad- I moved back into my Dad's house. I'm about to graduate -officially- in 10 days, and I've been 1.) Absolutely miserable adjusting to being back home after experiencing what was the best 2 years of my youth, and 2.) Terrified about my future: I can't wrap my head around HOW you move out, how you buy a car, manage your money, pay bills etc- how to be an ADULT.

I was surrounded by so many people every day at college: I never felt so loved. I met my boyfriend of 2 yrs here, my best friend, and shaped my life in ways I never thought possible. by coming home, it all had to get taken away and lost two friends this yr in the process. I have friends back home, but they're all introverted, don't like to get out too much. They also all have different schedules than me. I went from being too busy for them, to them being too busy for me now that my work contract has ended. I feel like I'm constantly in my house while everyone else is out doing something productive or with others, and it makes me wonder where I went wrong. I feel so lonely now that I sometimes cry myself to sleep at night. And what doesn't help is I'm desperate for new like minded friends, but I'm scared that at this stage in life going to public meet ups would be pointless because "everybody already found their group".

And then I wonder what's wrong with me: I'm 23, I can't afford a car, I don't have a sustaining full time job to move out with yet, and I don't even pay my own bills. I'm pathetic. It makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to move out, because I don't even understand how paying rent and buying a place or car WORKS. I'm worried that with student loans too, building toward a life out of this isolating house and into a space with my boyfriend wherever I land a job even, is going to be impossible. I just want my life back. I want my people/community back. I feel so hopeless and lost.

Just got yet another rejection email for a job I’m very qualified for, without even getting an interview first. It’s been 6 months since graduation, and I’ve probably applied to over 100 jobs at this point. I have only gotten two Zoom interviews and then rejected. The rest have all been automatic rejections or ghosted me. I literally had a high GPA, was in the honors college, a sorority, held various leadership positions in clubs related to my major, had an internship senior year, and have a great portfolio. I have no idea wtf I’m doing wrong, and I’m getting very depressed because I just want to start my life already and be financially stable not living at my childhood home. I have no idea what I’m doing wrong, I’ve reached out to various people and they’ve all given me the same advice. I know my resume is well formatted, I know I have impressive qualifications and a great portfolio. I write cover letters. I send follow up emails (to the jobs I really want), I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. My mental health is the worst it’s been in years and each rejection just makes it worse. It’s even worse knowing I am qualified for these jobs and they don’t even give me a fucking chance.

I really don't know how to start this but im hoping for some advice on what to do im at my wits end

I'm a masters grad from FIU in psychology. Psychology was something I was truly passionate in and after I graduated with a Bachelor's I went into the Masters programs, but I had no idea which one. Im an only child and the first in my family to attend college, so after speaking with a counselor and going back and forth a bit, I went into the Applied Behavior Analysis masters program, I did my research on the field, saw that it was about helping children with autism and related conditions and thought the field might be a good fit for me.

It was a mistake

ABA was absolutely NOT what I expected it to be: the field was super abusive to the kids (i once saw a supervisor yelling at a kid for being a little hyper), the supervisors and coworkers were massively disorganized for my practicum, they were rude and dissmissve and played favorites, and maybe i just had a bad site but I did more searching about the field and found it was INCREDIBLY sketchy and a lot of it just wasn't good.

The thing was that I couldn't back out or switch masters once practicum started in the 2nd semester because that's only when you learn the truth after the first semester, so I was pretty much stuck with this until I graduated in May, and ever since I've been job hunting with no luck. I don't want to stay with ABA even though I have the RBT certification (did the actual exam not the 40 hour site thing) because it's such a terrible field both science wise and working wise, but I don't know what to do and have been fruitlessly applying to all types of jobs I can think of

I have no idea who to ask or who to turn to since I'm sure as hell not trusting the FIU counselors again and my parents, even though they've been housing me, are somewhat boomerish and don't understand that todays job market is incredibly terrible.

TLDR: Im a masters graduate with a MS psychology degree on its own with basically no valid credentialling for actual legitimate fields and have no idea where to go with it

Any advice?

I just graduated this December from college and start a very good job in a couple of weeks. The job is fully remote though so Im living with my parents right now. Had anybody else been in this situation? I won’t have enough money saved to move for at least a couple of months, but I’m planning on moving when I can. The problem is I feel like a kid here and like I’ve lost all my ambition and I’m worried it will affect my new job. Has anybody else been in a similar situation?

I wish I didn't have familial pressures or societal pressures to pursue a high-paying job. I want to be a librarian or something chill. How come some people are able to do that while I'm stuck doing a stressful job (Reg. Nurse)? And then what is their life like? They can still live comfortably I assume.

I spent two years living in another state from my family to do my university degree. Sure, there were tough times, but they were actually the happiest years of my life as an adult. After graduating, I didn't have a job lined up, so I moved states to live with my parents and save on rent. However, I really underestimated the toll it would have on my mental health. My parents still treat me like a child and my whole family is just so dysfunctional. The house is constantly filthy/messy and people are always arguing.

I really regret moving home, and now realize that some things aren't worth saving money for. I plan to move out and rent with other people, but I know my parents are against it because they want me to save money. I also know that this city is more expensive to rent than my previous one.

I just can't help but feel like I made a massive mistake moving here and hate myself for it. I wish I could go back in time and stay in my uni city - I didn't realize how good it was until I left.

I was wondering if anyone has gone through a similar experience or has some advice? I feel like everyone hypes up graduation to be this amazing thing, but no one ever talks about the tough times afterwards.

**EDIT: Just wanted to say thank you for all your responses! Sorry I haven't responded sooner - have been really low energy lately, but I have read all of them and really appreciated the advice and support.

Hi guys, so basically I am a senior and i graduate in under 6 months (may 2025) lately I have been having a lot of anxiety about graduating and starting the “real world”. To give you a little but of context, this whole semester i applied to so many different companies and i had some luck with one of them i actually got a offer. Decent job lined up ($26 and hour, 45 hours a week). Even with this amazing opportunity i am so anxious and scared for the future. All my friends are stating in my college town to keep studying/ working and I am going back home to live with my parents and work this job. I have almost no friends back home.

Im scared of post grad life, being lonely and just working and working. The anxiety keeps getting worst, please share some stories and advice, would be truly appreciated it. Thank you 🥲

Hi guys,

I graduated from college with my MBA in accounting in December 2021. It’s been roughly three years since then. I thought I would give my reflections on how life has been since then.

The first two years 2022-2024 were absolutely horrible. I applied to over 1000 companies and no one wanted to hire me. I was absolutely depressed and felt worthless. I went through a terrible surgery that left me half deaf and everyone looked at me as a failure. (Or at least it felt like it.) I had no money and the aftermath of Covid left everything beyond expensive. I had to float myself using credit cards and racked up over 8k worth of debt on top of my student loans. I went through 20 interviews and couldn’t get past the third one. I tried applying for disability because but didn’t have enough work credits to qualify. I tried applying for supplemental security income but didn’t qualify because I wasn’t disabled enough. I had no friends anymore after my best friends girlfriend tried cheating on him with me and dipped. My dog passed away, uncle passed away, grandfather passed away, friends passed away. My car shit out on me (a few weeks after starting my first job.)

It was really just a terrible time altogether.

I just wanted to say that everything got better for me after I started my first finance job in 2024. The first job I got was absolutely horrible and was a 100 mile commute but I knew I needed the experience and the pay was decent. I put up with some terrible coworkers. That company is getting sued now but I job hopped to my current company and now make almost 6 figures with a 15 minute commute. (One way.) Since starting my new job I have paid off all my credit card debt, invested in physical therapy to improve my health, attended over 8 concerts, paid off my student loans, and finally broke 10k+ in savings for the first time in my life.

I still struggle. I still have not recovered from the surgery. My health is bad. My heart is still broken from losing my best friends, my family, my pet. I am lonely and can’t believe my mid 20s have passed by so quickly. I am bitter from things that have happened in my past that I don’t think I deserved from the people who are supposed to support me most. (Family and friends.)

However I struggled so fucking much to get where I’m at and I’m so proud of myself for finally have a good year after what seemed like a perpetual black hole. It’s incredible how many of my problems came from lack of money. However, money has not solved my loneliness. It has made it easier to treat the one friend I do have left as well as my sister who is a single mother.

Life after college has been very lonely and maybe I’m only writing this because I wish I had a friend I could share my thoughts with. But don’t give up hope because getting that first job is the hardest and life will absolutely improve once you get that.

So I have been interviewing non-stop for jobs this semester. I interviewed with a lot of really good companies where I would’ve liked the work I was doing and the company I was doing it for, but I just couldn’t get offers from any of them. Having gone through the past two years of looking for internships and not getting anything until after the entire school year was done, I feel like I should be more excited now that I have not only one, but two offers, yet I’m not. The one company is even in a location I really like and is meeting my target wage before even trying to negotiate with them. I feel like a lot less companies will be recruiting in the spring for something I genuinely enjoy and I also don’t even know what companies would be left.

Even though I’m not a fan of either company, I’m leaning towards saying yes to at least one of them and then keep looking if I like something better, but I feel like I would feel really bad for potentially reneging the offer. I don’t even know why because they wouldn’t even hesitate to pull my offer if something came up with me or if their “business needs changed”. Wondering what others think if I should accept one of them or just try and wait until I find something that makes me happy instead?