LIFE AFTER CAMPUS

BY VINCENT
You've been in school for the good part of your life. What will your life be like now that you are graduating from campus? How will you adapt?
The transition from campus student to working professional affects almost all aspects of your life. Not only will you have to adapt at work, but you will also have to adapt to your new life outside of work. After graduating from campus, you may find it difficult to progress into the "real world." Here are some tips to help you out.
Make new friends. After graduation, you and your college friends may disperse to other states in order to pursue careers. Eventually, you may lose touch with even your closest of friends. If this happens, it is imperative that you build new relationships. Make friends with people you work with or get involved with
your community in order to meet new people.
Change sleeping habits. Once you enter the "real world," there will be no more staying up until nine in the morning. Nine o’clock will more than likely be the time you have to get up and get ready for work. Say goodbye to nap time too. With a standard forty-hour work week, you won't get to take five-hour naps anymore. Try to go to bed at a decent hour so you will be refreshed for work. You should try to get around eight hours of sleep per night.
Purchase work attire. Transitioning from a college student to a working professional means trading in those torn jeans and sneakers for more appropriate attire. If you want to be seen as a professional, you have to look the part. Save the t-shirts for the weekend and invest in a business appropriate wardrobe to wear through the week.
Be prepared for entry-level jobs. Even though you have a degree, don't expect to have the perfect job and bring in a huge paycheck. A large number of the jobs available to new grads are entry-level. These jobs often require long hours, low pay, and hard work. Most employers want to see all employees start at a certain level in order to better understand the business. Working hard at this entry-level job will show your employer that you are dedicated and thus open up new doors for you.

Knowing what to expect after graduation and following some of these guidelines should help launch your post campus life on a positive note. The transition into the "real world" may be shocking at first, but you will become acclimated to it after a while. Good luck!