So, you have graduated from college. CONGRATULATIONS! With sounds of Pomp and Circumstances still going through your head and endless scrolling of seeing all the college graduates all over social media, it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, knowing you are finally done with college. The real question is: are you really done with college and learning for the rest of your life? What do you mean, Dr. Turner? Several things may happen within the first three to five years of you graduating from college with your degree that, if not handled professionally or adequately, could make all this college graduation celebration a college bust! Now Navient or Advantage, or whatever student loan companies want to call themselves, will be with you for a while, so that will not change. With all the classes we took as college students, there are many essential things that you never learned while being a college student that I feel are important things to remember as you look to start your life as a working professional in society.
So let Dr. Turner give you my tips on what you should be keeping in mind as you start your life as a professional that I hope will help you get your future life on an incredible path to success:
1: You Are Never Going To Stop Learning
You must realize that learning does not stop because you get your latest college degree as you go through life. You must be a continuous learner in everything that you do to keep up with industry trends and changes throughout your career. Yes, it is nice that you graduated with all the “cum laudes” and academic honors with distinction. You were a member of a ton of different organizations, and you hit the Dean’s List while you were in college every single semester. Honestly, no one but you and your family will really care about all these accolades once you graduate college. As a professional in the field, at your job, and in your career, the only things that will matter the most with your employees and your company is what you know, how fast you can learn it, how well you can execute what you have learned, and how well that you treat and get along the others that you work with. If you want to move up, you must learn early on that your college degree was just a tiny piece of learning to become great in your future career. Also, realize that learning in your future does not just come in obtaining another whole college degree. You can learn so much through webinars, conferences, certification programs, and community/organizational networking and involvement that will take you further in your life than you would even imagine. If you do not remember anything else, remember this… your professional reputation will mean more than all the credentials that you will ever acquire. Stay out of scandals no matter what they may be, and do not skew the lines between professional and personal. Work hard, and do not ever stop learning with all that you do.
2. Learn to “Take Care of Your Bodies, Take Care of Your Chicken, & Take Care of Your Mental Health”
I always thought the NFL Great Marshawn Lynch’s interviews were media gold every time he got behind the microphone. As he was in his last season as an NFL player, he provided suggestions to young NFL players on his perspective on things they should be doing as they progress throughout their careers. His recommendations of “take care of your bodies, take care of your chicken (money/finances), and take care of your mentals” are suggestions I would give to new college graduates as well. Not taking care of your physical health, finances, and mental health early in your career as a professional, it could lead to huge problems down the line as you progress in your future. College graduates must realize that hardships are real and they happen. Job/Career changes and losses, supervisor and employee struggles, cost of living and salary changes, health care issues, bad investing/saving practices, family/friend/relationship issues, even self-care/emotional problems all will in some way or form play a part of who and what you become as a professional in your future. How you handle these occurrences will mean the difference between how successful you become in your career and how successful you do not become in your career. If you know you have areas you struggle in, whether they are physical, financial, or mental, learn to ask for and get help early in your career in these areas. Whether it is getting a trainer, financial advisor (I believe in giving 10%, saving 10%, and living off 80%), or even a therapist, being open about getting help and support in areas you may struggle in will help you become a better professional overall.
3: JUST MOVE ON! Learn To Be OK With Things & Relationships Not Working OutIn life, we must realize that not everyone can go to the mountain top with us. As you look at your professional career, we must recognize early that whether it is with jobs, organizations we are involved with, family, friends, or romantic relationships, some things and people are just there for a season. We must learn to move on from them. I will be honest with you, most people you meet in your life are just there for a reason and a season. It is a benefit to individuals going into their lives and careers to know the quicker you can separate yourself from things that are not meant for you long term and take them for what they were for in your life as a benefit and move on from them, the better off you will be in your future. It really is a tough pill to swallow at times how many situations and people in your life switch and change up on you over time. That long-time boyfriend/girlfriend starts acting funny because you are going for your dreams… it may be time to move on from them. That job is not supporting your ideas or paying you your worth… it may be time to move on from it. Something at the beginning that can seem so amazing and promising can really have you shaking your head in six months to a year with you wondering, “what in the world did I get myself into?” Learn early in your career that things and people will change, and do not be afraid to move on from them. Closing a door in a relationship or job does not mean it may not open back up in the future, but know if it does open back up, it needs to be for the bettering of your future & not a burden in your future. Always go out on top and do not burn the bridge of the job or relationship as you put it behind you. Just know better opportunities and people will come along in your future, and have faith in knowing that you deserve the best in your life.
4: Do What You Want & Live Life With No RegretsI read an article a while back that asked many retirees what was one thing that they regretted the most as they look back at their lives? Most of the people interviewed said “Working too much” and “Not doing everything they wanted to do” in their lives. Many people spend their entire lives dreaming about what their lives could be and not working towards things that can make their lives really want. Many people over the years really played life safe, and that is their choice. Many people have their safe job/career, their safe relationship, and their safe life, and before they know it, they are in their sixties and realize “I didn’t do anything I really wanted to do.” Many people live lives of fear by listening to others about what they should do, taking in life being gas lit about their worth by society, and in a constant state of imposter syndrome with feelings that they cannot do anything because of what people may say about them. In the end, they do not have the confidence in themselves that they really can do everything that they really dream about doing deep down because of everything and everyone telling them that they should not do those things. You cannot live life worried about what people say and think about you because, in reality, a lot of people are jealous and envious and wish they had the courage to do the things you are doing in your life. In your life, after completing your college degree, you are going to have life-changing moments where the decisions you make are going to scare you. It is OK to be scared about doing it if it is truly what you want to do and that you are passionate about doing it in the end. What you do not want to do is look back on your life, wishing when that life-changing moment came that you would have picked what you wanted to do instead of being afraid of doing it. The years of your youth, once you graduate with your college degree, will fly by! Just make sure you are living with no regrets and living your life to the fullest because you have worked hard and deserve that so very much.
John C. Turner Ph.D. is an Award-Winning Educator, Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Model, Event Host, and Brand Strategist. Dr. Turner completed his doctorate degree in Urban Education Studies from the Indiana University School of Education – IUPUI. Dr. Turner is recognized as the only three-time Ronald E. McNair Scholar to complete three different summer research experiences at three different universities. Dr. Turner coined the phrase Celeb Scholar and is the CEO of The Professor JT Educational Counseling LLC. Dr. Turner can be reached at theprofessorjt@gmail.com or on LinkedIN at John C. Turner, Ph.D. (www.linkedin.com/in/dr-john-c-turner)
So let Dr. Turner give you my tips on what you should be keeping in mind as you start your life as a professional that I hope will help you get your future life on an incredible path to success:
1: You Are Never Going To Stop Learning
You must realize that learning does not stop because you get your latest college degree as you go through life. You must be a continuous learner in everything that you do to keep up with industry trends and changes throughout your career. Yes, it is nice that you graduated with all the “cum laudes” and academic honors with distinction. You were a member of a ton of different organizations, and you hit the Dean’s List while you were in college every single semester. Honestly, no one but you and your family will really care about all these accolades once you graduate college. As a professional in the field, at your job, and in your career, the only things that will matter the most with your employees and your company is what you know, how fast you can learn it, how well you can execute what you have learned, and how well that you treat and get along the others that you work with. If you want to move up, you must learn early on that your college degree was just a tiny piece of learning to become great in your future career. Also, realize that learning in your future does not just come in obtaining another whole college degree. You can learn so much through webinars, conferences, certification programs, and community/organizational networking and involvement that will take you further in your life than you would even imagine. If you do not remember anything else, remember this… your professional reputation will mean more than all the credentials that you will ever acquire. Stay out of scandals no matter what they may be, and do not skew the lines between professional and personal. Work hard, and do not ever stop learning with all that you do.
2. Learn to “Take Care of Your Bodies, Take Care of Your Chicken, & Take Care of Your Mental Health”
I always thought the NFL Great Marshawn Lynch’s interviews were media gold every time he got behind the microphone. As he was in his last season as an NFL player, he provided suggestions to young NFL players on his perspective on things they should be doing as they progress throughout their careers. His recommendations of “take care of your bodies, take care of your chicken (money/finances), and take care of your mentals” are suggestions I would give to new college graduates as well. Not taking care of your physical health, finances, and mental health early in your career as a professional, it could lead to huge problems down the line as you progress in your future. College graduates must realize that hardships are real and they happen. Job/Career changes and losses, supervisor and employee struggles, cost of living and salary changes, health care issues, bad investing/saving practices, family/friend/relationship issues, even self-care/emotional problems all will in some way or form play a part of who and what you become as a professional in your future. How you handle these occurrences will mean the difference between how successful you become in your career and how successful you do not become in your career. If you know you have areas you struggle in, whether they are physical, financial, or mental, learn to ask for and get help early in your career in these areas. Whether it is getting a trainer, financial advisor (I believe in giving 10%, saving 10%, and living off 80%), or even a therapist, being open about getting help and support in areas you may struggle in will help you become a better professional overall.
3: JUST MOVE ON! Learn To Be OK With Things & Relationships Not Working OutIn life, we must realize that not everyone can go to the mountain top with us. As you look at your professional career, we must recognize early that whether it is with jobs, organizations we are involved with, family, friends, or romantic relationships, some things and people are just there for a season. We must learn to move on from them. I will be honest with you, most people you meet in your life are just there for a reason and a season. It is a benefit to individuals going into their lives and careers to know the quicker you can separate yourself from things that are not meant for you long term and take them for what they were for in your life as a benefit and move on from them, the better off you will be in your future. It really is a tough pill to swallow at times how many situations and people in your life switch and change up on you over time. That long-time boyfriend/girlfriend starts acting funny because you are going for your dreams… it may be time to move on from them. That job is not supporting your ideas or paying you your worth… it may be time to move on from it. Something at the beginning that can seem so amazing and promising can really have you shaking your head in six months to a year with you wondering, “what in the world did I get myself into?” Learn early in your career that things and people will change, and do not be afraid to move on from them. Closing a door in a relationship or job does not mean it may not open back up in the future, but know if it does open back up, it needs to be for the bettering of your future & not a burden in your future. Always go out on top and do not burn the bridge of the job or relationship as you put it behind you. Just know better opportunities and people will come along in your future, and have faith in knowing that you deserve the best in your life.
4: Do What You Want & Live Life With No RegretsI read an article a while back that asked many retirees what was one thing that they regretted the most as they look back at their lives? Most of the people interviewed said “Working too much” and “Not doing everything they wanted to do” in their lives. Many people spend their entire lives dreaming about what their lives could be and not working towards things that can make their lives really want. Many people over the years really played life safe, and that is their choice. Many people have their safe job/career, their safe relationship, and their safe life, and before they know it, they are in their sixties and realize “I didn’t do anything I really wanted to do.” Many people live lives of fear by listening to others about what they should do, taking in life being gas lit about their worth by society, and in a constant state of imposter syndrome with feelings that they cannot do anything because of what people may say about them. In the end, they do not have the confidence in themselves that they really can do everything that they really dream about doing deep down because of everything and everyone telling them that they should not do those things. You cannot live life worried about what people say and think about you because, in reality, a lot of people are jealous and envious and wish they had the courage to do the things you are doing in your life. In your life, after completing your college degree, you are going to have life-changing moments where the decisions you make are going to scare you. It is OK to be scared about doing it if it is truly what you want to do and that you are passionate about doing it in the end. What you do not want to do is look back on your life, wishing when that life-changing moment came that you would have picked what you wanted to do instead of being afraid of doing it. The years of your youth, once you graduate with your college degree, will fly by! Just make sure you are living with no regrets and living your life to the fullest because you have worked hard and deserve that so very much.
John C. Turner Ph.D. is an Award-Winning Educator, Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Model, Event Host, and Brand Strategist. Dr. Turner completed his doctorate degree in Urban Education Studies from the Indiana University School of Education – IUPUI. Dr. Turner is recognized as the only three-time Ronald E. McNair Scholar to complete three different summer research experiences at three different universities. Dr. Turner coined the phrase Celeb Scholar and is the CEO of The Professor JT Educational Counseling LLC. Dr. Turner can be reached at theprofessorjt@gmail.com or on LinkedIN at John C. Turner, Ph.D. (www.linkedin.com/in/dr-john-c-turner)