‎ 8 IMPORTANT THINGS TO REALLY KNOW ABOUT LIFE AFTER GRADUATION

Congrats!

Isn't it a wonderful feeling knowing that you've made it this far in your educational journey?

Now that you've reached an important crossroad in your life – either a bachelor or a master degree, it's nice to have a little advice to help keep you moving
in the right direction.

A few pieces of advice for those navigating their "Freshman Year of Life."

After graduating, you'll hear a few things: "Theworld is your oyster!" "Seize the day!" "These are the best years of your life!" Whether or not those sentiments are true, there are also a lot of things your parents, mentors, and advisors at careerservices won't tell you about your first few years off campus.
Below, some of their advice.

1. Everyone will be on different pages. Gone are the days when everyone has a similar curriculum requirement or has class during the same afternoon time slots. Now you and your friends will have conflicting work schedules, different budgets, and different social circles, and you'll find it a little more difficult to coordinate your lives.

2. Decisions—both big and small—will be overwhelming. Now (almost) everything is up to you. And while some of the choices will be major—like where you should live—you might find yourself a little overwhelmed when faced with what to eat for dinner. And no, you don't have an advisor to guide you through your options.

3. It will be important to find permanence.When asked for the moment that they felt like an "adult," people's answers had a similar theme—it was when they made a permanent, committedmove to their new life. For one guest, it was when she bought a subway card for a full seven-day period. For others, it was when they bought their first bed and mattress for their apartments (which was a welcome change from the couches they'd been surfing, or strangers' rooms they'd been subletting).

4. There's more to a job than how it looks on your resume. When looking for a job, look past its title and responsibilities. There are so many things that will make a job the right fit, including the culture and having a good manager. Don't be afraid to turn down a great job (if you can) when it doesn't seem like the right company vibe.

5. Just because your friends live nearby doesn't mean your relationships will stay the same.Having friends in the same city can seem like an easy way to stay in touch, but you might find that your work schedules, life schedules, and other priorities prevent you from seeing each other as regularly as you thought.

When people graduate college, they can change, and you'll find that you have to make a serious, concerted effort to see the friend who lives only a few blocks away.

6. Say yes to as much as you can. When getting to know a new city or getting to know a new group of people, like coworkers, the best advice is to say "yes." Say yes to happy hour, a weekend adventure, an impromptu movie night—anything that helps you explore your new location and new life, and lets you step out of your comfort zone.

7. Never Stop Learning. Learning comes in many shapes and sizes, and your learning journey is about to change. But the journey has really just begun, and as your need for new knowledge continues to grow, AU will look forward to welcoming you back.

AU offers a wide range of continuing education programmes, that will keep you at the forefront of your academic field and strengthen your career.

From intensive brush-up courses to two-year MBA-programmes, you'll find the knowledge you need every step of the way and become part of a valuable
network of like minded professionals.

8. Enjoy the Rewards. Now that the endless reading, early morning lectures and late night studying have paid off – be proud and
be bold.

Earning a degree from one of the world's top 100universities and internationally accredited business s‎chool is not an easy feat and something to be extremely proud of.

Your degree gives you the academic foundation to go into this world and make the changes you've always wanted to make. Your degree is a ticket to exciting career opportunities that you've always dreamed of. So be proud and be bold and most important, remember to give yourself a big pat on the back. You earned it!‎