So, what’s next?

As a senior, two of the most common questions people ask me are, “What are you going to do next?” and “What’s next after you graduate?”

At the time of publication for this column, it will be my final week in the Student Media Department and I will be two weeks from walking the stage and accepting my diploma, marking the end of my undergraduate journey and officially graduating from UTRGV.

“What’s next?” can be an intimidating question to answer. With so many options available, such as further education or going straight into finding job prospects, it can be challenging to decide on the next step to take. 

Personally, when I was asked, I found it difficult to come up with an exact answer at times.

The transition of coming to terms with the reality of leaving university can be challenging and overwhelming, and is something that hit me with a lot of emotions as my graduation date approaches. 

It’s a time when we’re leaving behind a significant part of our lives, trying to figure out what comes next and feeling overwhelmed by the possibilities and uncertainties. 

After all, college is where we’ve spent a significant portion of our lives, making lifelong connections and building our academic and personal achievements.

It’s natural to feel anxious or scared about entering “the real world,” as people say, and leaving behind the comfort of the familiar surroundings that we’ve known for years to enter a new chapter of our lives. 

There’s a sense of pressure to make the right choices and not let all the effort that we’ve put in over the years go to waste. 

It’s easy to get caught up in feelings of uncertainty, but it’s important to remember that this is a time to celebrate our accomplishments and not let the fear of the future diminish the hard work we’ve put in.

Every experience we’ve had during our time in school has helped us grow and develop into the people we are today. 

Even if we don’t know what the future holds, we should be proud of everything we have accomplished so far. 

To all my fellow graduates, I want to say this: Though the future may seem uncertain, it’s important to trust in ourselves, our abilities and the knowledge we’ve gained during our college years. 

As you walk the stage to receive your diploma, remember you are capable of achieving great things and, though the future may have many pathways, you have the power to shape and decide that future for yourselves.

So, embrace this new chapter with confidence and make the most of the opportunities that lay ahead, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. 

Finally, to the Student Media Department, I would like to take what will be my final published work here to say, thank you for giving me the opportunity to have been a part of this department.  

As dramatic as it may sound, it was truly a life-changing journey that has helped me grow both personally and professionally. 

It has been an absolute pleasure to be a part of this department and to have had the opportunity to work with such an amazing and dedicated team.