Adjusting to the "Normal" Life

[Cyclonick182]

So I finished college this December and as I was driving home tonight with the majority of my stuff, it hit me that the party is over. Having said that, how did you all deal with the first few weeks away from school and the whole social life that you had for your years in school? :chatterbox::wideeyed:

 

[Littlefredbob]

I can tell you that for me, I didn't have much of a social life, and I lost contact with most of my friends immediately. It wasn't too difficult for me because I kept myself busy with things like work...

 

[Ames]

Work and getting started in the real world is pretty time consuming

 

[Cyclone62]

I worked at a ****** job until my new job started.

 

[ornryactor]

I can tell you that for me, I didn't have much of a social life, and I lost contact with most of my friends immediately. It wasn't too difficult for me because I kept myself busy with things like work...

That right there is pretty much a worst-case scenario for me, with the way my personality is wired. If I didn't have lots of friends around all the time, I'd be screwed. You pretty much just validated me staying in school for five and a half years, followed by going straight to grad school.

 

[Cyclonepride]

So I finished college this December and as I was driving home tonight with the majority of my stuff, it hit me that the party is over. Having said that, how did you all deal with the first few weeks away from school and the whole social life that you had for your years in school? :chatterbox::wideeyed:

Don't look at it as the party being over. Just that the party is going to change. While you will likely not have as much time for the things that mean a lot to you now, you will find that the things that you now spend your time with will hold deeper meaning for you. Keeping the right perspective is the key.

 

[BryceC]

By the time I finished school I was totally ready to be done and move on. Honestly you should just try and find a job with a lot of young people, it makes the transition a little smoother.

I also have lost contact with pretty much everybody I went to college with with the exception of my buddy Pony who still has MBB tickets with us. You'll find the people you really care about you stay in touch with and the people that you just hung out with will fall by the wayside as you get into your job and new life.

Don't look at it as a bad thing either. It can be a heck of a lot of fun. I enjoy being out of college MUCH more than I did being in college.

 

[BryceC]

By the time I finished school I was totally ready to be done and move on. Honestly you should just try and find a job with a lot of young people, it makes the transition a little smoother.

I also have lost contact with pretty much everybody I went to college with with the exception of my buddy Pony who still has MBB tickets with us. You'll find the people you really care about you stay in touch with and the people that you just hung out with will fall by the wayside as you get into your job and new life.

Don't look at it as a bad thing either. It can be a heck of a lot of fun. I enjoy being out of college MUCH more than I did being in college.

 

[brianhos]

Getting out of school and into the real world was so much better. I hated college, but I love work.

 

[JRCampy]

Don't look at it as the party being over. Just that the party is going to change. While you will likely not have as much time for the things that mean a lot to you now, you will find that the things that you now spend your time with will hold deeper meaning for you. Keeping the right perspective is the key.

I would pretty much agree with this statement. I'm pretty lucky that a lot people I was friends with in the marching band ended up living in or close to Des Moines. In my case the party wasn't over until those friends started having children, THAT's when a lot of things change...

 

[cycloneryan]

My favorite part of the "normal life" was when the student loans, car insurance, utility, and rent bills started flowing my way. That was a wake up call.

 

[JRCampy]

My favorite part of the "normal life" was when the student loans, car insurance, utility, and rent bills started flowing my way. That was a wake up call.

Only 3 years, 5 months to go on my student loans!! Who's counting though... :wink:

 

[jakemcilroy]

No tests is awesome. Sounds corny, but find a job you love.

 

[stvfarmboy]

I took a week off and started working. I could have probably taken longer off, but I wanted to start earning some money.

 

[CloneIce]

Getting out of school and into the real world was so much better. I hated college, but I love work.

I can only assume that is some kind of sick joke. :smile:

It is tough, the hardest thing is, if its Mon- Thurs night, you pretty much never get to have those adventures you do in college where you have no idea where and who you will end up partying at or sleepin at that night. You have to get up to work everyday, that is the hard part, getting on a boring schedule and losing the excitement of the unexpected that college brings.

You will also notice.... you have to be careful who you hit on now, now that you are out of college most of the women you will meet will me married or have kids. None of the bars will have $5 all you can drink deals either.

If all of your friends work desk jobs, you can still email back and forth and bs all day, thats a good way to stay in contact..... weekends are pretty fun to with no school work to worry about.

 

[mj4cy]

So I finished college this December and as I was driving home tonight with the majority of my stuff, it hit me that the party is over. Having said that, how did you all deal with the first few weeks away from school and the whole social life that you had for your years in school? :chatterbox::wideeyed:

Opened a beer and said to myself "Ok Mike, lets see if the 4 years paid off..."

 

[cyfan964]

I took a couple of months off to really look at where I wanted to go. Guess what? Came back to Ames and took a full time job. Find something you enjoy doing, put your head down, and work hard.

 

[drmwevr08]

Getting out of school and into the real world was so much better. I hated college, but I love work.

I knew there was something wrong with you. maybe this was it all along!

:yes:

Its a big life change. I did pretty well with it but still relished the chance to head back to grad school later on -although that was not remotely the same. Get a job you like and keep good people around you and you'll do fine.

 

[cybsball20]

I loved those first few years after college. Had a sweet house with low rent, living with some friends, walking distance from the bars and money in my pocket... LOVED IT

 

[wartknight]

I lived in a suite of 8 guys during college and we had a blast.
We have 3 pre-set times that we all (minus 1 who moved to Florida) get together along with several other buddies.
Just had one of those gettogethers this weekend.
December- "Christmas Vacation" viewing
January/February- Super Bowl Party
June- Canoe trip (guys only)
Take advantage of the other times to get together as well with bachelor parties/tailgates/even baby showers are a blast because the guys go golf while the ladies do their thing.

I took a week off after graduation, started my job and got married within the month.