Why Do You Feel Down If You Just Graduated

Youve been looking forward to graduation since you first started college or grad school. Its finally here—why arent you happier? Pressure Graduation is supposed to be a happy time! Why arent you happy? Be happy! Is this running through your mind? Stop pressuring yourself to feel the way you think youre supposed to. Allow yourself to be yourself. Ambiguous feelings about graduation are more common than you think. Most graduates feel a little nervous and uncertain—its normal. Dont make yourself feel worse wondering, Whats wrong with me? Youre ending one chapter of your life and beginning a new one. Thats always a little scary and anxiety-provoking. What can you do to feel better? Recognize that endings, as well as beginnings, are inherently stressful. Its normal to feel nostalgic over what was, and to worry about what will be. Transition-Related Anxiety If youre graduating college and planning on attending graduate school, you may feel anxious because youre embarking on a long path through the unknown. Youre also encountering mixed messages. Your graduation ceremony says, Youre at the top of the pack. Youve jumped through the hoops and are finished, whereas the orientation program at your new graduate institution says, Youre an incoming runt, the bottom rung of the ladder. That discrepancy can get you down, but the feelings will pass as you move on to this new stage in your life. Overcome the transition anxiety by relaxing and congratulating yourself on your accomplishment. Achieving a Goal Means Having to Find a New One Believe it or not, graduation blues is also common among graduates from masters and doctoral programs. Feeling somewhat detached and sad about graduating? Sound crazy? Wonder why anyone would feel sad after such an achievement? Thats just it. After working towards a goal for years, achieving it can be a let-down. No, you dont feel any different—even if you thought you would. And once you achieve a goal its time to look ahead for a new goal. Ambiguity—not having a new goal in mind—is stressful. Most graduates both from college and graduate school feel anxiety over whats next. Thats entirely normal, especially in an uncertain job market. What can you do about the graduation blues? Take control of your emotions, allow yourself to feel blue, but then work your way out of it by focusing on the positive, such as what youve achieved. Then consider new goals and a new plan to attain them. Focus on the career readiness traits that employers seek in college graduates and prepare to take that next step.  Nothing like a new challenge to excite and motivate you out of the graduation blues.