Julia N.
Photography done by Colleen Charchut
If you’re reading this, it’s okay if your future feels uncertain.
Graduation is something that comes up in every conversation I’ve had as of late. I joke that it’s becoming my personality, except I’m not typically the one bringing it up because talking about graduation means being bombarded with an onslaught of questions: What’s your plan? Do you have a job lined up? Where are you going to live? This series of questions is one to which I don’t have solid answers to. It’s a series I’ve come to dread. Contrary to the Northwestern status quo, I don’t have a job lined up yet, so these questions can be exhausting.
There’s so much pressure that comes with graduating and growing up, and this is my reminder to you that it’s okay if you don’t have it all figured out yet - you don’t have to, and I promise I don’t.
There were many moments throughout my academic career where I questioned if Northwestern was the right school for me, and while I might not be able to say what the next few years hold, I can look back and say that the last few years have been such a formative experience. I got to go to a school where it’s okay to love school. I made amazing friendships with some of the most talented people, and I’ve lived a beautiful, full life in Evanston. I learned to value sunshine in a way I never had before, and most importantly, I did it. I’ve made it to graduation, and I’m proud of myself, so the next time someone overwhelms me with a series of questions about what I’m doing post grad, I’ll flip the script and tell them what I’ve achieved over the last few years. I’ll talk about my favorite class (psychopathology with Renee, in case you were wondering) or traveling with friends while studying abroad.
People often ask if I’ve gotten everything I wanted out of my college experience, but I don’t think that’s the best question to be asking. Because I didn’t necessarily have the college experience I expected to have, from Covid to Nerdwestern culture, I wouldn’t say this is what I “expected,” but it’s been so much more than whatever picture-perfect movie fantasy I had in mind. I gained independence, I made amazing friends, and at the end of the day, I’m so grateful for my time here, even during all the times I shed tears.
People ask me if I feel like I’m missing out because I’m graduating early, but what I’ve come to realize is that every choice I make is going to come with benefits and bittersweet moments, leading me to gain one thing while missing another. The forks in the road provide choices and unknown opportunities. While saying yes to graduating early means saying no to another year living near my friends and missing nights out and football games, it also means saying yes to more opportunities, to weekend trips and to new life experiences.
It’s perfectly normal to feel simultaneously excited and slightly terrified about graduating, regardless of whether or not you have next steps solidified. I promise you’re not alone in whatever it is you might be feeling. I’m still figuring everything out, too, but I’m choosing to believe the future can be beautiful, even if it’s unknown.
So to the class of 2024, congratulations! I’m proud of you, and I’m wishing you all the best as you figure out what your future holds.
Julia N., Northwestern University
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