By Mercy Ifabumuyi

The first question that comes to mind when people graduate from the university is that, does life get easier? Do dreams finally come true for graduates? However these questions have different answers, life might be rosy and sweet for some after graduation while life might be very difficult for others, or some are just unsure of the future, which all depend on the circumstances surrounding an individual which can be favourable or the other way round.

Some students during interviews with The Hope have different views to life after graduation and how they are trying to sail through the difficulties that come with graduation.

Ayoola Praise, a Physiotherapist, who recently graduated from the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, explained that things haven’t been so bad and that he is trying to adapt to new life after leaving the university.

 ‘I am learning to adapt and I don’t have everything figured out, it’s one step at a time. He sees his present situation as a phase that comes with its own challenges and that only the unrelenting ones will enjoy.

 ‘I have fought procrastination and explored other areas apart from academics. My advice to those in the universities is to first identify their purpose, with consistency and diligence nurtured with Godly wisdom.

Gbenga Gabriel Kehinde, who also recently graduated from Elizade University as a Performing and Film Art student who majored in Music also shared his experience.’

 He said that life after graduation leads to a lot of job opportunities and that there is freedom to pursue his dreams, and presently he is working on a collection of songs, and he is also learning other skills that he wanted to learn like software animation, music orchestration and so many other things. He further talked about how he wished he had improved his GPA from the early stage by taking his academics more seriously, and advised those still in the university to be passionate about their studies for them to stand out.

In conclusion, he wishes to find a good job that will help him get closer to his dreams to achieve his promising future. ‘I am getting closer to my dreams everyday, and in five years from now, I should definitely be where I hope to be,” he concluded.

Favour Ayotunde is a nursing graduate from Achievers University.

She states that she still needs her parents’ support after graduation and that nursing can be figured out after NYSC.

 “I am still under my parents’ wings, nursing can be figured out after NYSC, unless someone is doing something like tailoring, make up or skin care,” she stated.

She explained that she hasn’t really had the chance to enjoy life after graduation.

She also advised undergraduates to learn a skill that they can use to support themselves in the university or after the university before they have everything figured out.

She wished she had focused on the skills she has passion for, but her course in the university didn’t really give her time to focus on anything aside from Nursing, to avoid distraction.

Caress Olusola, who graduated with a degree in Law at the Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State, also shared her experience on life after graduation.

She explained that she hasn’t really had much  real life experience but she is excited to have finally established her own fashion startup.

 She said she never imagined that she will have everything figured out after graduation. ‘It’s okay not to have everything figured out, and I’m starting to learn more about myself and the world,” she stated.

 She explained that the time between finishing your exams and then meeting expectations like getting a job, figuring out your life is the only enjoyable time for her.

 ‘I would have told my younger self to let loose a little bit more and my advice to students still in the university is to figure out a healthy balance between the university and social life,” she concluded.

Ifabumuyi is an intern with The Hope from Elizade University