The post graduation blues

[firemyst]

I've been doing what one of my professors has dubbed the "post-graduation blues" for quite some time now. It's something that I've learned almost everyone goes through. And it is awful. Commiserating has only gotten me so far. I doubt everything. What I want to do, what I want at all, what I like, what I don't like, and what I want out of my life.

Comments

[katyarizhaya]

Oh, Cat... *hug* Things will work out, and in the meantime just remember there are a lot of people who care about you. There are short things you can do to give yourself a break- like meet up with friends during your lunch break (Victoria works just around the corner from you, for example), or take a 30 minute walk around your neighborhood, or try some meditation. As for social life- it you're ever up for a short impromptu happy hour get-together, just send out a mass text message- I for one would be happy to meet up with you in Chinatown.

I've been meaning to send you stuff about cover letters, but I don't think I have time today. Soon... soon!

[huntress_ayame]

::hugs:: Hang in there, kid. You can do it.
Based on what I've seen so far, a big part of starting to continue in academia is the crazy stress and holy-crap-how-do-I-balance-all-this-ness. (that, and making up words, sometimes with crazy hyphens, to describe your experiences. or maybe that's only in the social sciences. ;-p) You have to want it. Like seriously want it like nobody's business. This part is the test of that. There's definitely some weeding out. It's not about how good you are, it's just about how much crap you're willing to deal with.
Also, it is possible to have some time for relaxation and a social life, but as you seem to have already figured out, you have to constantly remind yourself to make it. It's so easy to let everything else consume all your time and energy and not even realize you're letting it.
And on a final note, good God you sound like me. We could totally be sisters or something. ;-p

[sylk]

No, no. That's totally not limited to social sciences

[malthol]

I know you and I don't hear from each other much these days, but I've reached ABD status in my PhD program since last we talked much

[crazykawaii]

*hugs hugs hugs*

You know I feel ya, babe. Sounds like you're doing all the right things - trying to find a new job, mapping things out, etc. I would just remind you that 1) job hunting seems to involve a LOT of just banging your head against a wall sending out resumes into the void, never to be heard from again, and just requires persistence, and 2) it is OKAY to not know what you want to do with the rest of your life! Or to think you know but do things that don't necessarily get you towards that goal except by making money to eat/pay rent. I have to keep reminding myself of that last one.

Also, I have a "social life" idea - do you want to make a weekly Buffy night and finally watch all of the third season? We could alternate weeks, crash on each other's sofas for work the next morning, whatever makes it more convenient.

I love you and am thinking positive thoughts!

[goosechecka]

I'm right there with you kitty. I know exactly what it feels like. The frustration, the feeling of helplessness, overwhelmed, crying on a daily basis because all of this seems so messed up. We're honors kids, we're smarter, we deserve better and we're stuck doing... this? Even with a social life and a very supportive fiance, it's very difficult to stay positive. I spend 9 hours of my life every day in a tiny cube, surrounded by people who I don't know, work I don't care about, and just wondering what I've done to deserve this. I've tried everything, I even went to the career center. Unfortunately, all they tell me is, "you're doing everything right, just keep trying." Yeah, that's easy to say when you haven't spent the last 3 months slamming into closed doors.