Welcome to the next chapter of your life!
A chapter full of opportunities, changes and challenges.
The transition from a life of being a university student to a working adult …
It’s exciting, right?
But if you haven’t noticed, it’s also one of the most challenging and potentially confusing transitions of your life (especially if you don’t know what you’re doing next).
Friendships, relationships, community, and tons of other stuff changes and suddenly, you're an adult… You’re not a student anymore, and all the friends you made were from the time you were a student.
Taking in all these changes at once can be pretty overwhelming, right?
ELLE STAYED ON AND LIVED IN HER UNI CITY AFTER SHE GRADUATED.
HERE'S WHAT SHE SHARES ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WHEN SHE GRADUATED LAST YEAR:
"One thing that hit me when I graduated was that I was moving into a completely different stage of life to the last 3 years, and that meant my experience of church might also be a little different. The biggest thing that changed was not being part of what was going on with students anymore. Those had been really natural friendships when I was a student, but I didn’t have socials or student outreach events to go to anymore, and so that meant I saw people less.
It also meant that my mission field changed slightly.
I personally don’t feel called to student mission, but whilst I was studying, it was natural for me to focus on students, as they were the people around me who I was desperate to introduce to Jesus.
I think for some people, student mission is a calling, and for others, graduating means a change in the demographic that you’re trying to reach. For me, it was time to think about who else I wanted to serve."
If you’re graduating this year,
"Firstly, it might take a little more effort to spend time with the people you used to do ‘student focused’ stuff with, and that’s okay. It might just mean more coffee catch-ups or intentional quality time. Those relationships don’t disappear just because you’re no longer a student.
Also, it’s a brilliant opportunity to invite someone to mentor you, or to communicate well with your mentor. This is something I really wish I had done. The investment that went into you as a student (most likely by a student worker) might not be as easily available to you, but that’s where your wider church family come in.
Working life is different to student life, and having somebody who understands speaking into that can be a really healthy thing."
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
As a graduate, who could you ask to mentor you?
Is there anyone you could mentor?
