March 11, 2020 The Signal page 9
Features
Career / Say ‘sayonara’ to senior scaries “As someone who is new at a job, you want to be putting all of your time and effort into it, but at a certain point, you have to realize that you need to make time for yourself as well,” Vilanova said. The months, and even years, following graduation often involve a lot of change, so developing a solid, go-to routine can help alleviate that feeling of lost control.
Graduating students may feel anxious about adulthood. continued from page 1
include sleeplessness, irritability, feeling unable to control life and avoidance of everyday activities, such as spending time with friends. Despite the mixed emotions that adulthood brings, these feelings can be managed. Here are a few ways to navigate the anxiety that life after graduation brings. Normalize Feelings of Anxiety Ask a senior how they’re doing during their last semester of college, and chances are they’ll jump through hoops just to dodge the topic altogether. Instead of avoiding feelings of anxiety, Murakami said students who are graduating should embrace their feelings, even if they’re negative, and normalize what they are going through. This means thinking, “This is hard, and it’s okay that I am having a hard time with this. It does not mean
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I’m weak,” rather than “Everyone else feels this way, so just suck it up.” “Openness and acceptance towards a feeling, even a negative one, can help seniors manage their negative feelings,” Murakami said. “This helps them decrease negative judgments towards the emotion or towards themselves for even having negative feelings in the first place.” Find an Outlet Whether a person is in the midst of overwhelming anxiety or looking to manage their feelings before they arise, finding an outlet can benefit their mental health. This can mean exercising, practicing creative hobbies and talking about their emotions to a friend, family member or therapist. Allyson Vilanova (’19) said that after graduation, it’s important for people to continue their self-care routine in order to avoid burnout.
Make a Plan For many students, most of their postgraduation anxiety stems from fear of the unknown. Do I want to go to graduate school? Where am I going to work? What am I going to do if I don’t find a job? People’s minds tend to overthink when their futures aren’t totally set in stone. To stop the cycle of overthinking, Murakami suggests planning ahead. Whether it be going to the College’s Career Center to discuss options after graduation or scheduling a therapy appointment before feelings of anxiety arise, the sooner a person plans ahead, the easier it may be to handle the transition from student to working adult. “Planning ahead can begin by just asking oneself what has been important to them during their time at TCNJ, like friends, learning, staying active and being involved in the community,” Murakami said. “(They can) identify small steps they can take to include these elements in their post-graduate life.” Appreciate Where You Are From the last time they get their student ID scanned in Eickhoff Dining Hall to dancing at their final Thursday-night Rho, a student who’s graduating might feel pressured to take advantage of every opportunity in order to make the most of their time left at the College. This can heighten feelings of anxiety and F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out). To minimize that overwhelming pressure, students should remind themselves to embrace moments as they happen, be thankful of the memories they’ve made and appreciate the
people who surround them. Justin Cook (‘19) shared that seniors should encourage themselves to participate in experiences that can only be found at college. “The key is to make sure you’re always doing something you can’t do away from school — taking initiative, meeting new people, creating or learning,” Cook said. Maximilian Burgos (‘19) agreed, adding that having a limited amount of time at college can encourage a person to step outside of their comfort zone. “Get out there and do something that creates good memories and builds you as a person,” Burgos said. “Be bold. Take charge of your life. Find meaning in the smallest of moments, and you’ll be happier.”
Drop the Comparisons Regardless of what stage of life a person is in, comparison is inevitable, especially during the months following graduation. With social media feeds full of peers sharing that they just landed their dream jobs or are getting engaged to their long-time sweethearts, it’s difficult to avoid feeling insecure and hopeless. However, it’s normal for a graduate to struggle at finding a job, or even a job that they love. “You have the rest of your life as a working adult, so there is no need to worry if your dream job doesn’t happen right after college,” Vilanova said. “I was way too set in finding a job I wanted to work at forever, but really all I needed to figure out was what I was doing right now.” From students and graduates alike, Burgos said being happy doesn’t depend on a degree, job or annual salary — it starts with treating oneself with kindness. “Just treat yourself like the kid you’d hope to raise,” Burgos said. “You’re not perfect, not even close. You won’t always do things on time, but that’s okay. Even if you’re 10 percent better each week, that adds up.”
Ink / Students use body art to promote self-love continued on page 1
the quote “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise” on her ribs is borrowed from her favorite book, “Les Miserables,” and the flowers on the side of her stomach represent beauty and growth. “My tattoos remind me that I’m here, I’m human and I’m worthy of happiness,” Soucy said. Another popular trend for students at the College is getting a tattoo that honors a family member or fond childhood memories. When Samantha Allen was a sophomore in college, she got her first tattoo on her left wrist of a small beach scene and the word “shine” in her mother’s handwriting. The tattoo reminds her of the time she spent as a child at Island Beach State Park with her family. Since then, the senior marketing major has added two more tattoos: an edelweiss flower on her ribs and an Aries constellation on her right wrist. John Brezina, a senior clinical psychology and counseling
major, also has a tattoo that relates to his family. Located on his chest, Brezina’s tattoo is a self-designed family crest that resembles the Porsche logo, as his passion for cars is shared by his father and brother. Inside of the logo are the colors of his family’s birthstones, music notes and the word “Believe.” “I wanted a tattoo that I would be in love with aesthetically, but also one that was laden with meaning, so I spent a lot of time working with it,” Brezina said. “I decided to put it right over my heart, so that if I ever hang my head, I am immediately reminded of why I always push on.” While many young people are quick to join the ink trend, others refrain from having tattoos altogether due to its permanency, a lack of design ideas or the fear of disapproval from their parents. Although many worry about this negative reaction, Zane Thompson-Bradley, a junior interactive multimedia major, said his family loves his tattoo of the words “Forever Love
Grandma Doreen,” which he got in honor of his grandmother who died in 2013. “It represents how I will never forget her, what she taught me and that I will always love her,” Thompson-Bradley said. Although tattoos have been traditionally viewed as unprofessional, many employers are becoming open to the concept of hiring workers with tattoos. According to a 2018 study by the University of Miami Business School, 40 percent of young people with at least one tattoo are not at a disadvantage when it comes to employment. Tait Algayer, a junior biology major, has a tattoo of an endangered species of bird at a beach she grew up near and worked at as a lifeguard for five years. Today, she works at that beach as a biology technician and said that tattoos are more tolerable in the workplace than she expected, as one of her colleagues is covered with them. As society becomes more accepting of tattoos, people seem to express more freedom and
autonomy when it comes to decisions about their bodies. “I was so close to chickening out when I was sitting in the waiting room before getting my first tattoo, but the second I got
it, I have spent every day thinking about my next one,” Brezina said. “It is an absolute obsession I cannot escape, and I can’t wait to get more and continue to turn my body into my new canvas.”
Photo courtesy of Kayleigh Soucy
Soucy’s tattoo acts as a reminder to love her body.
