StarTribune opinion article: "Dear graduates: It's ok, really. . ."

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I am still in shock! “Dear graduates: it’s OK, really…”, a commentary I recently wrote, was published in today’s StarTribune paper!

Excerpt
“College graduates, I write to you in this period of darkness and dismal isolation as a fellow 20-something struggling to forge her own path after four years of protected guidance. I write to you as a friend. However, I also write as a scared young girl who is just trying to paint on a face of confidence every day. I am here to tell you that you are not alone; I remind you that it is OK to not be OK, especially through this kind of existential crisis.”

Read the article

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When submitting the commentary, I excluded several paragraphs to meet the word limit. Continue reading to view the full message.

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Without warning, our newly full hearts emptied with the realization that we are on our own now. You packed up your life of the past four years into boxes to start a life away from all you know. Or, you painfully watched your closest friends –your college found family– do the same. The nights of “So this is goodbye?” and “Good luck! Keep in touch” are over. 

Everyone who is reading this is in a different place with their career, personal lives, mental health, and financial struggles. With that being said, I hope that in this letter you find validation and for a brief moment, your worries about the future subside. Allow all of the noise in your head to quiet and breathe. You will be ok. And again, you are not alone.

It is ok to go through an identity crisis. Please, do not compare yourself to your friends, past classmates, and new colleagues. If needed, take a week off social media to refocus on yourself and your path. Remember, your loved ones are just a phone call or text away. If you are missing them, they likely are missing you too. Send them a text, “Hey, I just wanted to say I’m thinking of you.” Open the door for conversation amid the painful quiet.

It is ok if you are returning to school to pursue your dream job. It is ok if you do not want to go back to school. It is ok if you want to start a family and put your career on hold. On the other hand, it is ok to prioritize your career over your family. It is ok to be a stay-at-home parent or caregiver. It is ok to be engaged or married after college. It is ok to be single after graduation. Do not let outside judgement impede you from accomplishing your goals.

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