When I graduated college this summer, I feared I would always long for my college days. But post-grad life is just as fulfilling.

The author graduated college and feared post-grad life.

I wore my University of Warwick hoodie around my house in the days following my college graduation. Although I had a graduate job lined up to start a few weeks later — a job I was thrilled to begin — I was upset. My college experience was truly over.

My degree in English literature and creative writing transformed me into the writer I am today. And as for everything else — the socializing, the student community, and the campus overall — well, it was perfect for a studious extrovert like myself.

But while I initially thought I’d always pine for my college days, I can say that post-grad life has its plusses, too.

I worried my education would stop when I left campus

One of my biggest worries about leaving college was losing the enjoyment I got from academics. Yet, I’ve found a lot of learning can still happen outside the four walls of a classroom.

As a journalist, my typical day involves brainstorming articles, researching new topics, distilling complex scientific studies into news content, and ensuring the best ways to present our digital content. That’s a lot of brain work, and thankfully, I get a lot of enjoyment from learning new things.

Outside of work, I’m working on my first novel, which means I’m going through periods of editing, writing, and planning. I’m also getting to know my characters as they come to life, and there are huge learning curves. Plus, I love to read nonfiction books, especially on nutrition.

I quickly learned that in post-grad life, there doesn’t have to be a shortage of new things for your curiosity to dig into.

There’s still time to prioritize what I want to do

Before graduating, the thought of fitting in all of my hobbies around a job seemed like it would be a squeeze. I was used to having a looser schedule around my college classes. But with a bit of planning, it’s all doable.

I make small to-do lists on my Google Calendar to help me complete everything I want to do. For example, my calendar includes writing 500 words each day for my novel, pitching freelance articles to publications, and trying new recipes on particular days.

I’ve also been disciplined about exercising. I go to the gym or swim in the mornings before work.

A side note: planning to meet up with friends might take more effort in post-grad life, but effort is all it is. It might feel annoying having to plan a weekend get-together a month in advance, but it’s far better than letting friendships slip into the abyss.

The future is something to be excited about, too

There’s no shame in finding the transition into post-grad life hard. You leave behind an institution that you know so familiarly, a set of great friends, and comforts you have grown accustomed to.

Sure, my days might look different now compared to the midday seminars and late-night chats on campus. But I’m now able to find ways to keep a lot of the things I love about college alive. Whether that’s enjoying my hobbies, meeting up with friends, or carving out the time to continue my love of learning, I’m still able to do it all — just now with some planning. I do believe that post-grad life can be as fulfilling as your college days.

So now I wear my college hoodie but with a different feeling. For the first time in a few weeks, I can now say I was a student of the University of Warwick — in the past tense — without crying. It makes me incredibly proud.