Suppose you have recently finished your studies, whether undergraduate or postgraduate. In that case, you must be wondering which path to take now, what life awaits you after studying, what decisions you should make or if you should continue studying.

Normally, life after university can seem like a rollercoaster of emotions. After years of academic dedication, you finally find yourself on the threshold of what we have heard about the real world for many years. I have already been there when I finished my undergraduate degree, and I want to share what I wish I had been told at the time.

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Life is more than a career

For a long time I thought that who I was was defined by what I was studying. It is normal to think that when you have been involved in studies for so long, you adopt a personality that you believe corresponds with what you study.

However, when I graduated and stopped focusing on studying and getting perfect grades, I was able to meet new things and people, and discover new passions. I stopped only hanging out with people who had studied my degree, and I started hanging out with people with other types of interests, I rediscovered myself, and I found new things in myself that went beyond what I had studied.

Tennis became my new passion

There are opportunities everywhere

Although it may seem daunting at first, the post-uni world is full of opportunities waiting to be discovered, from working in your field of study to exploring new passions and careers. This is what happened to me - I started working in an industry very different from my career and I loved it, what you study is not necessarily going to determine a single path in your life, life is always full of thousands of possibilities and opportunities. It is a matter of finding them and deciding whether to take them or let them pass, but do not be discouraged, the road is always long and there is a lot to explore.

Don't compare yourself, not all processes are the same

I remember that when I finished my undergraduate degree, many of my friends already had jobs related to what they studied, and others were already about to begin their postgraduate studies. I was in neither position, and watching them and seeing where I was placed a lot of unnecessary pressure on me. Comparing yourself to others is the worst trap, each person has their own unique path and faces different challenges and opportunities.

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Focus on your own journey and what is important to you rather than measuring your success against the standards of others. In the end I took a path a little different than what was expected, and a year after graduating from my undergraduate degree in Colombia, I managed to come to Queen's to do my postgraduate studies in an area that I am passionate about.

Don't feel guilty about taking a gap year

In my particular case, I didn't take a year but several months, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. After finishing my undergraduate studies, the dissertation had left me exhausted, and taking some time off was refreshing, my body, my mind and my soul deeply appreciated it. If you are going to take it, you have to look on the positive side, you are going to get away from academic pressures and explore the world in a unique way.

I travelled around the US during my gap time

I managed to travel a lot, took some part-time jobs and got to know myself better in many aspects. It is a time to grow, learn and discover new passions before embarking on the next stage of academic or professional life.

Looking back, I realise that graduation was not an end point, but rather a stepping stone to a brighter future. Although the road ahead often seemed uncertain, I learned that with hard work, perseverance, and a little optimism, it is possible to overcome any challenge that comes my way. After all, this journey is endless, and there is no time or energy to waste it on thoughts that bog me down.

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Postgraduate study at Queen's

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Information for students from Colombia

Isabella Barros De La Rosa Violence, Terrorism and Security | Postgraduate Student | Colombia Hello, my name is Isabella Barros, I am 24 years old and I am from a beautiful city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia called Barranquilla. I am currently pursuing my master's in Violence, Terrorism and Security at Queen’s. I am very into running and outdoor activities. That's why Belfast is so amazing to live in, because of the landscapes, and the spaces for this kind of hobby. Besides running and studying, you can find me in any bookstore, wandering around the city, or enjoying a pleasant coffee in a cute cafe!