Don’t Know What You’re Doing After Graduation? Good.Sample

My senior year of college was quite a ride. I was taking classes, working in residential life, founding a student club, playing intramural sports, enjoying my friends, not sleeping enough—life was both full and exhausting. What's more, I was engaged to my college sweetheart, Paige. It was an exciting season.

But it was also a time of anxiety. As graduation drew closer, and our wedding two weeks after, my stress grew. I didn’t know what to do next. I took a capstone class designed to help seniors figure out their life through personality quizzes and spiritual gift inventories. And it was easily my least favorite class in college. My close friends knew what was next—they had jobs lined up and long-term visions for their lives. As the year went on, I increasingly heard the dreaded question: what are you doing after graduation?

I had no clue how to answer.

It’s not that I knew nothing. I knew I was deeply interested in many things I’d studied. I knew I was going to marry Paige—a decent start! I knew there were questions and causes I cared about. And I was beginning to realize something about what I was good at. But I had no idea how to assemble these puzzle pieces into a coherent life—or even a first-step job.

I couldn’t know then what I know now. But, if I could time travel, I’d tell my early-twenties self a few things. First, I’d suggest doing something like Brazos Fellows—to take on a common Rule of Life, and commit to spiritual disciplines with my friends. And then I’d say what I tell college seniors all the time: Not only is it not bad you’re unsure what’s next, it’s actually better. That’s right. Against career counselors everywhere, I boldly take my stand: It might be good you don’t know what you’re doing next.

I’m overstating it to make a point. But indulge me for a bit: over the next few days in this devotional, let’s read scripture and consider the goodness of not knowing. Let’s trade in anxiety over the dreaded “what’s next” question for the peace that comes from trusting God.