Christie Garton - U Chics Diploma Diaries: The Chic Grads Guide to Work, Love, and Everything in Between

Copyright 2013 by Christie Garton

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Garton, Christie.

U chics diploma diaries : the chic grads guide to work, love, and everything in between / Christie Garton.

pages cm

1. Young womenLife skills guide. 2. College graduatesLife skills guide. 3. College graduatesEmployment. 4. School-to-work transition. I. Title.

HQ799.5.G37 2013

305.2422dc23

2013001721

To the women of UChic.com,
the true inspiration behind this book.

contents

introduction

Congratulations! If youre reading this book, then you have succeeded or are very close to succeeding in completing what are arguably the best four years of your life. (But you know what? We think the best is yet to come.) In any case, graduating from college is a significant accomplishment that should not to be taken lightly, and you should be proud.

Despite the sense of pride you have rightfully earned, you may also be feeling a little uneasy. That is completely normal. Reaching the end of ones college career brings a mixed bag of emotions for every graduate, even those who appear to have everything figured out. On one hand, its thrilling not to have to write another term paper or cram for a test you are oh-so-not prepared for. On the other, the stress over the future and what comes nexton top of officially becoming a full-fledged adultis a lot to have to suddenly take on.

Plus, these days, youre facing a whole new set of challenges that do not have easy answers. From a lack of high-quality jobs for recent college grads to the crushing burden of student-loan debt, we could all use some sound advice on how best to navigate the transition from college to the ever-more-challenging real world.

That is what Diploma Diaries is all about. Because youve lived long enough to know more or less what works for you, we decided against writing just another how-to guide. Instead, we approached the expertsyoung women like yourself who are dealing with the very same issues you areand asked them to share their personal stories on how they managed the postcollege transition.

After college, I often found that the best advice came through how I did it stories from older friends and mentors. Consider our books contributors your mentorsgirls you can grab your favorite coffee drink with while you dig into their how I did it guidance. In addition to their storiessome that may make you laugh and others that might shock you with their raw honestyweve included advice, tips, and tricks throughout the book as U Chics Reality Check boxes that are designed specifically to help you navigate this challenging time.

That said, with U Chics Diploma Diaries, the conversation doesnt stop at the last page. Lets say you have a specific question that is not directly addressed in this book. Visit www.UChic.com/Diploma-Diaries where you can ask your question, interact with other readers, and share your own tips. This guide is really the start of a conversation that can last throughout your twenties and into your thirties.

Thats Diploma Diaries in a nutshell. So read on and get inspired as you move forward with your fabulous future. After all, its yours to create, so go out and make of it what you want!

xoxo,

Christie Garton

Founder and Publisher,
UChic.com

Real World Bound

So youre getting set to graduate from college. Or maybe you already have. Youre likely wondering what your future holds. Great question, right? Thats entirely your call. As the saying goes, the sky is the limit.

But hold on a sec! While its inspiring to think that the future holds limitless possibilities with the right experience in your back pocket (like that hard-won diploma), it is frustrating that the specifics on how to accomplish those possibilitieswhat to focus on and what steps to takearent readily apparent.

The reality is that while you have been on a long journey to get that college degree, it is far from over. Your journey into the real world brings a whole new set of challenges not seen during college, and with these challenges come incredible possibilities. The main difference between the college and the real-world journeys is the heightened focus on your sense of self. The postcollege transition is truly a time for self-discovery.

In the real world, you no longer have a professor or academic advisor to tell you that you have to do one thing over another. Your parents, friends, and family will probably be available to help weigh in on difficult decisions, but you dont have to answer to them or listen to them, either. You are the only person you answer to now.

While knowing that you are in charge can be empowering, it can be equally intimidating. I know how weird this change can feel. After a few years out of college, I attended law school and graduated, but along the way, I realized that practicing law wasnt for me. Fast-forward to the summer after law-school graduation, when I was supposed to be studying for the bar exam (that stressful exam that all law-school graduates have to pass to legally begin practicing law).

Instead, I found myself rethinking my entire future. Sure, Id been offered a job with a prestigious law firm in D.C., but did I really want to go that route? After all, I had started a business in law school, and it was beginning to take off. Maybe I should focus 100 percent of my time on building this company I had created. I was so confused about what I should do.

I called my parents. I called my friends. I hashed it out with my boyfriend so many times. Should I even take the bar, if I wasnt planning to practice law forever? Everyone listened to the pros and cons, but no one had the answer. The decision was up to meand that was a stressful realization! After several restless nights, I finally decided what I had to do. Gathering up all the courage I could muster, I just stopped studying for the bar. I swear, the clouds opened up that day and the sun came out. It really felt good to finally decide on something