Post Graduation Depression

It's far too common to see the situation of someone struggling after graduating college, and it presents a unique type of issue for the individual in question; a conflict of how they should feel and approach the situation. Most people are told throughout their whole lives that hard work translates to success, and then are jolted by the realization that this isn't always the case. On top of that, they also have to deal with the common notion that struggling young people are just unjustifiably complaining about their situation. Not to mention the especially snarky responses people get whenever they say they got their degree in liberal arts. Yes I'm definitely speaking from experience here. The big thing that people who make these remarks either don't understand or simply don't care about, is how much work goes into any type of degree. Countless days and nights are spent camped out at the library buried in books and sustained by copious amounts of caffeine consumption. But that's just what it looks like on the surface. It's easy to knock the whole college thing if all it appears to be is an individual spending some relaxing time at a library or coffee shop doing some light reading and writing. It's especially easy to say that it's nothing if you yourself make a living by doing some sort of intensive manual labor. But that's where perspective, or a serious lack there of, comes into play. I can say that I've been on both sides of that debate; I've completed college, and I've spent a large amount of time afterwards performing jobs demanding large amounts of physical strain. From my experience I can say that neither are easy lives, but they're both difficult in different ways. Whereas one demands strain of the body, the other demands overexertion of the mind. And that brings me back to the topic of this entry. I, like countless others, have found myself in the position of struggling to find a niche and it's overwhelmingly frustrating. Like I said earlier, I was told all my life that if I worked hard at something, that effort would translate into success, but going through an experience where that is yet to occur is especially jarring. Many blame the market, they say that it's just not a great time for college graduates. Others take a more cynical approach and berate the idea of college in general, saying that trade school is a much better approach. I've got to say, seeing some people I know who went to trade school and are now doing somewhat well, at many times I've thought those people might be right. But then a different thought occurred to me; perhaps the college path might not yield immediate results, but in the long run, those who choose the path tend to do better and many studies have shown that. On the other hand, for someone who is having difficulty to see those studies, they often find themselves just feeling worse. "If the system isn't broken, it must just be me" is a tragically common thought. I can't say for sure if it's always the fault of society or always the fault of the individual, I prefer to look at things through a more individual focused lens. Still, the problem looming over college graduates is powerfully daunting either way. I don't regret my choice of pursuing a college degree, my experiences I gained through it shaped me into the person that I am today and if I were given the opportunity, I'd do it all over again. Also I should say that I'm not saying that trade school or manual labor are a lesser career choice, just that they yield results at a different pace and appeal to different kinds of individuals. Different does not equate to inferior, I can't stress that enough. Either way, no matter who you are or what path in life you chose, it's never a good feeling to be berated for that choice. To be called a fool for pursuing a certain career field is a sickening experience, I've dealt with that very personally. As the case with any kind of insults, I feel this comes from a place of either needing to feel superior, or needing to cover up a feeling of inferiority that many people tend to experience. It's still not pleasant, but I do understand it. Anyway, the post collegiate struggle seems to be more and more pronounced these days, but that begs the question of what can be done about it? Student loan debt in the country has reached an absolutely insane level, and that, along with many other factors is holding college grads back from doing so many things that previous generations seemed to be able to enjoy. Then you have tons of people who think the problem is so simple to solve "you took out a loan, just pay it back" is a common sentiment I've heard, but it always comes from people who aren't in the circumstance. It's so fucking easy to belittle the predicament of someone else when you yourself haven't had to deal with it. "If she couldn't pay it back she shouldn't have taken out a loan" yes but I'm fairly certain most individuals have every intent of paying their debts, however circumstances don't always allow for an ideal position for such direction to be taken. It's a statement that comes from a similar unwillingness to put oneself in the position of others as someone saying "If he didn't want to die, he shouldn't have joined a gang" again, circumstances that some don't understand often play a huge role in things like that. I struggle to find the words to express my frustration with people who revel in putting others down for being in predicaments that they themselves haven't experienced. I should say that I don't actually have any student debt. I have other kinds of debt, but I'm fortunate enough to have been in an ideal position that spared me that particular issue. However it's still a huge issue for not only many of my peers, but people all over the country, and that's why it matters to me. But again, I'm just mentioning the problem, what's the answer? Unfortunately, I'm not sure. I'm well aware that many are calling for the cancellation of student debt, but that also brings about the economic issue of a vacuum of funds that were promised. So many people on both sides of the argument talk about it like it's a simple issue, but that's just not the case. If it were a simple matter, it would have been taken care of already. That however, is just one issue college grads are facing. There's also the inability to find work in their field which I'm currently dealing with. That's where all of the problems tie into each other. You take out loans to get a degree, work your ass off to get it, graduate, can't find a job, can't pay the debt back, and are trapped in this vicious cycle that leaves you a panicked wreck. Taking all that into account, the idea that all of it simply isn't worthwhile starts to become appealing, but then I consider all that I wouldn't have if I didn't take the path that I did. I think about all of the experiences I had, the connections I made, the character I built, and that really puts it into perspective. No matter what path you choose in life, there will be complications and easy solutions are few and far between. When it all comes down to it, there isn't much use in complaining about what has already come to pass, which is what many tend to get stuck on. "I shouldn't have done this" or "I should have done that" are common thoughts that I've experienced, but I also try my best to keep them at bay since I know they're ultimately pointless. All that matters right now is focusing on what comes next. If all you focus on is what's behind you, you'll trip on the steps just ahead. There are no easy fixes to the struggles of the life of a post graduate, each person has their own circumstances to deal with, and unfortunately all I can say is that the only thing you can do is push on and make the most of what you have. That's a pretty pathetic and generic answer to a complex issue, but unfortunately, I don't have all the answers, and that's the best I can give.