What College Seniors Are Really Thinking as Graduation Approaches

That moment you’ve been waiting for since your child began his college journey is finally here—graduation! In four very fast years, not only has he studied hard for his degree, he’s also learned independence, built lifelong relationships, gained important skills such as doing laundry and cooking, and is now brimming with confidence and ready to take on the world.

Or is he?

Hey parents—newsflash!—as you prepare to celebrate the amazing culmination of your child's college life, he or she may well be grappling with how to handle the overwhelming responsibilities of adult life. Seniors might be graduating, but that doesn't mean they're feeling ready to tackle the real world just yet. 

May is one of my favorite months. The temperatures are warmer, and the burst of color from blossoming trees and flowers is so uplifting. I also get to enjoy some very special days. The first is Mother’s Day  Mother is a title I worked hard to earn! It also happens to be my birthday month, and I love a good party. And finally, it’s graduation month, a time to celebrate exciting new beginnings.

This year, two of my kids are graduating, one from high school and the other from college. While my high school son is excited to leave school behind and embark on a brand-new college experience, my college senior has more bittersweet feelings. He admits to feeling pretty darn scared about what lies ahead after he steps off campus this month and walks into his future as an unemployed college grad.

What’s on a College Grad’s Mind?

I interviewed my graduating son and his friends to get real about their post-college concerns. I'll share their comments and offer up some tips—both my own and some straight from the upcoming grads—to help you support your new graduate as he or she gets ready for life after college.

Did college prepare you for the real world and for a career?

“Attending college definitely helped me acquire skills and knowledge to enter the workforce. But more than anything, it helped me obtain a strong mindset that is hopefully going to help me transition from college to the grown-up world. Truthfully, I think it’s going to be a pretty drastic change going from an academic routine into a career setting. There were plenty of days when I felt the grind of studying and being part of an athletic...

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