Three years ago today, I walked across the stage at Temple University in my cap and gown, happily accepted my hard-earned diploma and closed one chapter of my life for an exciting new one.

Some days I feel like I graduated from college yesterday, and other days, it feels like an entire lifetime ago.

On that beautiful May day at Temple University, I had no idea what my future would hold. I didn’t yet have a job offer, but I was optimistic and confident that my hard work would pay off.

I was sad to leave an amazing four years at Temple and incredible people behind, but excited to begin the next part of my life-one that I knew would be full of new challenges, opportunities and experiences.

So much has happened in three short years:

• I’ve held two awesome jobs- one in healthcare PR and my current job, in travel/tourism PR.
• I’ve taken on leadership roles in area public relations organizations like PPRA.
• I’ve had the opportunity to travel, both for work and for fun, to places like Jamaica, Punta Cana, Texas, Arizona, Illinois and Florida.
• I’ve overcome my fear of public speaking and now speak regularly to classes, organizations and even a room of more than 100 people at a conference.
• I underwent a complete transformation to reclaim my health, losing 30 lbs and becoming a runner.
• I started taking freelance writing/PR as a side gig seriously.
• I launched this blog and an e-newsletter.

As students all over the country walk across the stage this week to accept their diplomas, I’d like to offer a bit of advice for new college grads as they prepare to enter the real world:

Don’t panic. If you don’t have a job offer yet, take a deep breath and calm down. It’s not uncommon to not have a job yet, especially in this economy. Use your newly-found free time to perfect your resume and cover letter, complete informational interviews and attend networking events relevant to your industry. If you still can’t find full-time work, consider taking an internship while you continue searching, pursue freelance gigs or accept a position as a contractor (hint: sometimes these kinds of opportunities turn into full-time jobs!)

Learn to step back and listen. One of my biggest challenges coming out of college was accepting my place as a small fish in a big pond. As a student leader in college, it was difficult to go from leading meetings, planning events and having complete control over an organization to settling into my place as the low woman on the totem pole at work. But remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Similarly, it’s important to observe and listen, especially when you’re new to a job. Having an opinion is great, but learning to soak in all the information you can and sharing your ideas when you have something thoughtful to say will help you go a long way at work.

Be confident. While it’s important to know when to speak and when to listen, don’t let your age and lack of experience deter you from doing the best job that you can. Strike a balance between being respectful and a good listener and taking initiative and sharing your thoughts and ideas. After all; you were hired for a reason. Be confident in your skills and abilities, but remember that you have a long way to go in your career and soak up every opportunity you can to learn from those in your industry.

Maintain your friendships. One of the rudest awakenings for me after graduating from college was the immense effort it takes to maintain friendships. In college, I took for granted how lucky I was to live in such close proximity to all my my closest friends. When we graduated and moved to different corners of the country, I was struck by how lonely I was and how challenging it was to keep in touch. Understand that you’ll likely need to make a bigger effort to schedule get-togethers and times to catch up. Also, recognize that sometimes friendships change or dwindle after college- and that’s okay too. There’s always an opportunity to make new friends, even though it may seem more challenging.

Get healthy. If you harbored any unhealthy habits in college (late-night pizza, anyone?), the first few years out of college are a prime time to reclaim your health. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to run a 5K– now’s the perfect time to begin working on that goal. Need to start eating healthier? Create a meal plan each week and pack your lunches for work accordingly.

Pursue your passion on the side. Let’s face it. Not everyone loves their first job- and that’s okay. But even if you do enjoy your job, consider taking matters into your own hands and start pursuing something on the side that gets you out of bed each morning. Whether it’s starting a blog, writing a novel or launching a business, these newly-found skills may help you land your next job and give you something to get excited about!

Begin saving money. Ugh. I know. Thinking about money can be really stressful. If you’re anything like me, you may be coming out of college with thousands of dollars of student loan debt. The first few years out of school are the perfect time for you to begin getting your finances in order and prepare for a successful future. Begin by paying back your student loans, establishing credit and taking advantage of your work’s 401K program or similar savings program for retirement.

Have fun! Listen, the real world can seem scary, but it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Think about it this way: you now have a bit more money and free time to actually enjoy the city you live in and take advantage of experiences you may not have been able to pursue as a broke college student. Indulge in post-work happy hours, purchase that blazer you’ve had your eye on for months and plan a getaway with your friends. What I love most about the real world is that after work and on the weekends, that free time is purely mine to pursue whatever it is I most want to do.

See? Being an adult really isn’t so bad after all….congrats grads! And welcome to the real world!

What advice would you share with college grads as they prepare to enter the real world? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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