This archive report was first published on 4 November 2019.
On November 4, 2019, graduating was a fulfilling and exciting experience for many higher education students. Receiving the fruits of their labor in the form of a higher qualification was a gratifying moment after years of hard work and sacrifice.
However, the fear of the unknown can consume some graduates. The current age of social media makes it easier than ever to compare your life to the lives of others online. Celebrating the achievements of others while disregarding your own accomplishments can send you on a downward spiral of post-graduation blues.
One piece of encouraging advice for surviving this season of life is to focus on your personal growth. No situation, good or bad, is permanent. That doesn't mean that you can't overcome the bad times when they come. In life, we all go through seasons, and everything will fall into place at the right time.
Write down a gratitude list and include 'graduating' on that list. Many people don't get the chance to achieve a higher education qualification. The fact that you have a higher education certificate is a blessing in itself, something that many men and women around the world would do anything to accomplish.
Picture life as a race track. When athletes are running a short distance race, they don't look to the left or to the right to see who's faster or slower than them. Their focus is on the finish line, based on their ability to cross that line at their own pace. Have this same perception on life without looking at it as a competition.
Instead of looking at post-graduation blues as a punishment, what lessons can you take with you from such a season? Tough seasons in life teach us the most valuable lessons and make us stronger and wiser. Look for the silver lining in the situation and think about what that season can teach you.
