I’m finished with school. Now what?

After recently graduating from high school, college or other institution of higher education, you might have a few anxious questions circling your mind. What do I do now? Who is going to help me? What if I fail? Dr. Eric Storch, psychologist and professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine, shares ways to calm your anxiety as you navigate a new time in your life.

Feeling anxious about what comes next in your life is normal. After graduating, you’re now in a transition period where there is uncertainty.

“It is anxiety-provoking for young people to be on the edge of having to dictate their life, mostly independently,” Storch said.

One of the ways Storch says you can manage anxiety surrounding this situation is by having a clear self-vision.

“This can allow you to figure out the steps you need to actualize that vision,” Storch said. “One of the reasons people may struggle is because they are not clear on where they want to go, so they are not able to point themselves in a direction.”

He also suggests:

• Appreciating what you need to do to achieve your goals.
• Reaching out to others. Have mentors, whether family, friends or colleagues in your career field.
• Knowing that you won’t always be successful in every endeavor and being open to feedback. Have an element of grit so that when you get knocked down, you get back up again.
• Realizing that this is your opportunity to shape the life you want

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be who you want to be and define that very clearly,” he said.

While everyone is different when it comes to navigating a new time in their life, parents can help their children by understanding their needs and providing them with support.

“It ultimately comes down to figuring out what your child needs and how you can support them without doing it for them and being able to provide constructive feedback to encourage them along,” Storch said.

By Taylor Barnes