#1 Calm down
Graduation can be terrifying, life being dumped out of a fishbowl onto the pavement. But try to reframe it as potential and possibility and hopefully it will look less overwhelming. Nothing is going to happen overnight - I had a lot of high expectations for myself when I launched myself into the professional world, and when I wasn’t immediately given a staff job at Dazed I felt
like it was a personal failure. The reality is though, no one gets into a creative field because it’s easy, and uni is not the end of the struggle, but it’s still a struggle worth doing.
#2 stop faking it
Don’t stay in touch with people purely for networking purposes. Not only will they probably be of no use to your career you will quickly realise your only bond was stress-eating snacks next to each other in the studio.
#3 It’s okay to wanna take a break
I got a degree in illustration and then didn’t pick up a pencil for six months. University burns you out and you’re not a failure if you want to have other experiences for a while. Your passion will still be where you left it when you come back around to it in your own time.
#4 Put the time in
As with all things in live you get out what you put in; no one is going to just hand you a lovely salary job on a plate. Unfortunately in this economy it means depressing internships and a thousand different side hustles, but find the time to build a portfolio of work. Celebrate! You made it through and out the other side, so give yourself some credit and have a drink or eleven, the rest of your life can start tomorrow (or the day after, depending on the hangover)