How to Prepare for Life after College (The Real World)

Have you been thinking about life after college?

WATCH THE VIDEO: How to Prepare for Life After College

Chances are, if you are in the last year of school you have a lot on you mind:

• Graduating on time
• Securing the correct classes
• Finances
• Studying, tests, exams, projects

Your life has been academic since you were at least 5 years old. Wow! Can you even imagine a time when you won't have a paper due or need to study for a test? Well, that time is closer than you think, and it can be stressful as well as exhilarating. This is what you've been working so hard for! You have been preparing for life after college for your entire life up to this point. That is a heavy realization.

Sometimes, during the quiet times when a dream is just about to be realized, we can doubt ourselves. We worry if we made the right choices. What if I can't find a good job? What if this isn't the path God intended for me? What if I forget everything I've learned?

Take a deep breath!

Related: Life Skills: What Every College Graduate Should Know

God has Prepared You for Life after College

As a child of God, you have never made a choice alone--not really. The Holy Spirit has been guiding you with a gentle hand on your shoulder. You've prayed about which college to go.  Your parents, friends, teachers and spiritual advisors have prayed for you--even if you didn't realize it. You've been walking God's path for you all along. Don't doubt that now.

You've got this, because God has you.

Tips for Preparing for Life After College

• Pray. Keep daily prayer in your life. Stay connected to God even as the hectic schedule of your busy life takes over. The quiet times you spend with God will sustain you when feel overwhelmed.
• Reflect. Every major life event requires time to process and reflect. Graduation from college and transitioning into the work force is a MAJOR EVENT. Everything changes. Your schedule, your priorities, your focus, your responsibilities, your location, etc. Take time to get in touch with how you really feel about this. Remind yourself of all of your accomplishments and goals you have achieved, while setting new ones. You've come a long way!
• Activities outside of school. As you approach your last year or semester in school, it is important to start looking for ways to spend your time outside of school (before you graduate). This will make the transition easier. As a student, you are mostly surrounded by other students and professors, talking about school and school life. Start talking about life after school.