Sophie Bright is an assistant opinion editor of the Daily Titan. All opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Daily Titan as a whole.
As Cal State Fullerton’s commencement ceremony approaches later this month, many Titans may feel overwhelmed trying to source job opportunities, contemplating graduate school decisions and finding time to de-stress after the high-intensity environment of undergraduate life.
Exiting undergraduate programs after dedicating several years to a diploma is a huge accomplishment. Taking a break post-grad before jumping into a newly emerging adult life should be normalized as a necessary step into self-discovery and, most importantly, as an opportunity to take a much-needed step back from the stress that accompanies college.
According to a study by Colorado State University Global, with a survey of 2,000 people, nearly 50% said they would take a break between college and work if they could go back.
More notably, 86% of people who took a break said that it was helpful and exactly what they needed before stepping into a career or pursuing extended higher education.
“The majority of students are anxious about the next step after graduation,” said Ken Rios, Counseling and Psychological Services’ Wellness Room coordinator. “I think a little bit of that is the system that we have and I think a little bit is the societal pressures.”
Choosing to take a break after college may inflict feelings of shame and fear of being left behind. The stigma surrounding breaks is not unique to university students; it predominantly stems from “hustle culture,” equating failure to not keeping up with peers’ timelines. In actuality, taking these breaks consciously increases productivity and prevents burnout.
Making a decision like this with a plan for how to spend the newfound time can help students gain experience that will make them more successful in their future career or educational endeavors.
“There’s a stigma, but it’s even worse than that,” said Ella Ben-Hagai, an associate professor of psychology who specializes in social psychology. “I think it’s really hard because, one, it’s hard on mental health to graduate. It seems really happy, but actually, the year after graduation, it’s usually very difficult emotionally.”
Post-graduate depression has become an increasingly common experience among young adults, with research showing that graduate students are six times more likely to experience severe depression and anxiety symptoms.
Taking time off post-college can help mitigate the risk of these symptoms, enabling comprehensive mental health recovery and furthering personal growth.
Ben-Hagai says it is valid to take this time post-graduation to explore interests without succumbing to the pressures of linear progression and modern culture. Graduates can use this time of mental recovery to consider different pathways, aiding their preparedness and clarity for their future careers.
“I just last year had a student who wanted to go into counseling, but wasn’t exactly sure,” Rios said. “I thought that was a really big decision financially and time-wise, and if you don’t want to go into school after this and you’re halfway through your program, you’ve wasted time and money.”
Rios instructs students to explore a plan and keep a written record of non-professional goals to examine the kind of life they want. By indulging in their passion, graduates take a necessary step towards long-term happiness, enabling more sustainable emotional regulation during a major transitional period.
As newly emerging adults, graduates are responsible for their own time and are free from academic pressures. This valued time of reflection can lead to revelations about oneself, especially previous plans not being what they truly desired as graduates explore other options.
The burnout and mental health struggles that graduate students experience stem from feelings of aimlessness after the college routine has run its course.
“The reason it’s really hard is that when people graduate from college, they lose structure,” Ben-Hagai said. “In order to fill yourself up, you become obsessed with grad school but you’ve got to be comfortable with the fact that your 20s are going to be difficult, it’s a difficult age and there’s going to be a lot of changes because it’s a time of exploration.”
Individuals who take personal time after graduation to engage in experiences, such as travel, can help struggling graduates relieve stress and gain a sense of control over their transition from decades of schooling into adulthood. These experiences simultaneously allow students to recuperate after extensive educational efforts and enhance graduates’ desirability to different companies.
Missed opportunities and delayed progression into higher education or the workforce do not equate to failure. Graduates should take the time to celebrate the milestone they’ve completed and move forward into their future with a stress-free mindset at their own pace.
The path ahead looks different for every graduate, true success is built on personal growth rather than buckling under social pressure. Because conformity is simply an abstract idea, it cannot be used to compare accomplishments between classmates and peers post-graduation.
Completing a college education is an impressive feat and something graduates should be proud of. The struggle of figuring out post-graduation plans can be detrimental to one’s mental wellbeing, ultimately calling for students to take time to emotionally reset and adequately prepare for their futures through experience alternative to education or professionalism.