I’m Done With College. What Now?
My Senior Portrait, shot by Logan Bailey
2024 is a year I’ve had mixed feelings about since I was a little kid. At ten years old, I envisioned myself being a perfect adult by 2024. I would be 21, freshly graduated with a killer job, maybe on the way to getting married, and a clear path to the life that I dreamed of.
Well, 2024 is only a few weeks from now. Despite the things I got right in my childhood predictions, I’m still growing. Yes, I am graduating early. Yes, I have a partner who I love very much, and yes, I know what I’d like to do with my life–despite the fact that I do not own a breifcase. But as adulthood without the safety of a college environment creeps closer to my reality, I still am unclear on how to achieve the career and accomplishments I dreamed of as a little kid.
The job search, as most recent grads have learned by now, is a tedious priority. Between my interviews and LinkedIn doomscrolls, I want to make sure I don’t lose the passion for digital media that got me my degree.
I’ve decided that having everything figured out by 21 may have been an unrealistic expectation. So here’s what I’ll be doing in 2024 instead.
I’m taking my first few weeks after college to prioritize my mental health. Therapy, exercise, and some time away from my laptop. I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts how I’ve been burned out, but unfortunately, my feelings of burnout often come with some symptoms of depression, which I’ve struggled with for a long time. I think that my first few weeks of freedom from academia should be spent caring for myself and spending time with the people I love. This is what I’m most looking forward to, and I implore everyone to take time for themselves when they have the opportunity.
Wild Blue Yonder at The Bowery Electric for 47 Magazine and Media
I’ll also be focusing more on photography. I’ve recently started working with 47 Magazine and Media as a concert and staff photographer, and I cannot wait to devote some of my newfound free time to a hobby I’ve really grown to treasure. I’ve already shot my first concert for the publication, and the joy I felt behind the camera was unmatched. Over the next few months, I’ll be working on editorial photoshoots and securing press passes to shows all over the New York area, not to mention expanding my network of Gen-Z digital creatives. How’s that for a resume builder?
A photo from a show of mine in early 2023, shot by Mia Brice
Finally, I plan on spending more time making music, furthering my production skills, and releasing the album I’ve been pushing off for a few years. Music has been the one thing I’ve really missed in 2023, and I’m over the moon to have the time to return to my roots. I know and appreciate the fact that I will never be a full-time musician, but my side career in the music industry makes me feel the most myself. I haven’t been particularly vocal about my work in music on this platform, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that my experience as a recording artist is an undeniable piece of who I am. I’m excited to share what’s coming next with you all!
A long awaited photo of me and the Fordham Mascot, Ramses
As scary as 2024 seems, I’m ready to learn more, grow more, and handle the scary parts of change in small doses. I know infinite opportunities are in store, and I can’t wait to share where the year ahead takes me.
