Feeling embarrassed to say “I don’t know what’s next.”
FEELING EMBARRASSED TO SAY “I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S NEXT.”
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We spent years surrounded by ambition, excellence, and the unspoken expectation of a clear, upward trajectory. Every summer internship, every club leadership role, every perfectly curated LinkedIn profile suggested a predetermined path to success. We were told we had the world at our fingertips, and for many, that meant a prestigious job right out of the gate.
But then, you graduate. And suddenly, that meticulously crafted future feels a little less certain. You see friends landing those coveted roles in finance, tech, or consulting, and you find yourself wrestling with an unfamiliar question: "What now?" Maybe your path is unconventional, maybe it's slower, or maybe, just maybe, you haven't found it yet.
The pressure is immense. It feels almost sacrilegious to admit, after all that effort and investment, that you don't have a perfectly packaged answer for your parents, your peers, or even yourself. The idea of "Ivy friends, non-Ivy jobs" can sting, or even just "Ivy friends, no clear job." The transition from campus to career isn't always a smooth, celebrated leap. Sometimes, it's a weird, fumbling, wonderfully messy discovery. And it's okay. It really is. You are not alone in this. This journey is yours, and uncertainty is a part of growth, not a sign of failure.