Schwarzenegger - I just graduated ... now what?: honest answers from those who have been there

Copyright 2014 by Katherine Schwarzenegger

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Crown Archetype, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.
www.crownpublishing.com

Crown Archetype and colophon is a registered trademark of Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-0-385-34720-4
eBook ISBN 978-0-385-34721-1

Jacket design by Jessie Sayward Bright

v3.1

I dedicate this book to every person being asked the worlds most annoying question;

S O NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ?

Whether youre facing that dreaded question after high school, college, or quitting a job, have faith that you will figure it out and that you are not the first person to be in the position that you are in right now. There have been many people before you, and will be many after, who feel like they have no idea what to do with their life. Just breathe (and read this book). You will know what to do when the time is right. Good luck!

Oh shit! I just graduated Now what?

That was the overwhelming thought running through my head on the day I walked across the stage and received my diploma in communications from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California. As I said good-bye to my friends and teachers, I felt terrified about closing the chapter and opening a new chapter in the real world. There were no feelings of great elation or relief among the many hugs and cheers. Instead, there was a feeling of total panic and paralyzing fear of the unknown. Picture a frozen smile on the outside melting into panic on the inside. Of course I was happy to be done with school, but I was in an unexpected state of shock. Every hug and congratulations on my graduation was complete with the question Whats next? The ink wasnt even dry on my diploma!

I know life is riddled with tough questions whose answers we dont always know off the top of our heads. And the reality is, we will face these kinds of questions for most of our lives. It started when I was a junior in high school. It seemed everywhere I went, people asked me, What did you get on the SAT? How did you do? Have you applied to college? What college are you planning to attend? Where are you going? What schools did you get accepted to?

Before being accepted to any colleges, I remember feeling lost and unsure because I didnt know where I would end up after high school graduation. Rejection letters came, and so did acceptance letters. The University of Southern California was always at the top of my list, so as long as I was accepted, that would be my school of choice. After a lot of anxiety, USC accepted me. When I made my decision, I thought Id gotten a reprieve from the annoying Whats next? questions, only to have them start again my junior year of college. What will you do when you graduate? Did you get a job yet? Where are you going to live?

The closer graduation got, What are you going to do now? seemed to follow me wherever I went. I had been in school for so long, always going, studying, working, and volunteering. I was that annoying perfectionist who challenged myself to write a book, while in college, about womens body image, something I and every girl struggles with. To say I spread myself thin doesnt begin to describe how I felt during that time. In fact, at the beginning of my senior year, I felt like I was on autopilot. I planned to move to New York, get a job working in television, and continue my go-go-go mentality.

But as my graduation neared, I began to hear a little voice inside me telling me, Slow down, stop, whoa, take a beat, what are you doing?

I was like, Huh? Who is that?

What the ?

I had never done that.

I am the kind of person who thrives on staying busy. I had my first job working in a boutique when I was fifteen and have always enjoyed working. Id always had a clear vision of what my future looked like. From my earliest memories in elementary school, I plotted my course through middle school, high school, college, and beyondright into my thirties. (Trust me, I am not the only person who does this. Most girls have their wedding planned in high school, right down to their dream husband, dream house, dream baby, and dream career that allows for all of this to happen! Guys Ive spoken with have their own version of this too!) I could envision every aspect of my life that whole time, but I never planned on this confusing doubt, uncertainty, angst, and fear after college where for the first time in my life, there was absolutely nothing to see.