Summertime in Rhode Island

It's that glorious time of year in Rhode Island again, summertime.  Some may complain about the heat and humidity but, as a summer baby, I love every part of it.  Summertime is when southern Rhode Island comes alive, there is so much to do and see in southern Rhode Island.  This my first summer home in the past two years so I'm trying to make the most of it (while simultaneously trying earn extra money) before I head off to Spain in early September.

Over the years I've truly come to appreciate Rhode Island summers and while I enjoyed beautiful northern Spain, I did miss: the constant sunny days (not so much this week though!), the heat, the rivers, forests, and so much more that I grew up with.  So here is what I'm taking the time to enjoy this summer, in what could be one of the last for a while.

Food

My cousin made me a 'sauce recipe' book!

I love food.  LOVE IT.  A huge part of my summer has always been going out with friends and family to enjoy different local restaurants, especially seasonal ones that are only open during the warmer months.

With me moving to Spain this year I'm making an even bigger point to experience as much of the food I love before I can't have it anymore (especially American desserts because I have a terrible sweet-tooth).  So this all means a lot of wings, corn on the cob, doughboys, ice cream, Del's lemonade, anything "saucy", anything "spicy", and good beer.

Especially good beer.  

Enjoying a delicious rack of beer.

My heart weeps at the thought of going a year without any porters and only Guinness as a stout.  My dad and I love a good dark beer and a good variety, to put that into perspective our favorite tavern has 69 beers on tap.  When I describe the Spanish beer, and lack of variety on tap, to my dad he just looks at me in horror, like I told him they eat baby kittens and breathe fire.

But I do love Spanish food and luckily Spain redeems itself with it's fantastic wine.  So I'm making sure to enjoy plenty of food and drink during my "maybe last Rhode Island summer."

Cotton candy with nerds, is that weird?

Work

Luckily I love one of my summer jobs so it's not too painful having a spainless summer.  Right now I'm babysitting three days a week for a wonderful local family who has just about the cutest kids I've ever met.  I met them in the after-school program I ran this year, and I'm so glad I got lucky with such a great family because it's been an absolute joy working for them.

The first day I came over they begged me to stay for dinner and then when we finished eating the little boy turned to his dad and asked: "Can we play with her?" I died laughing.

His favorite memory from the after-school program was
hitting me with the ball, real funny kiddo.

They're insanely fun kids with lots of energy and have so many things to ask me about Spain and what life is like there.  Luckily my BF is a good resource and gladly answers all the questions a six and eight year old are curious about, aka everything.

Our time has been spent going to the library, pillow fights, intense Uno matches, and playing hide and seek (so unfair because I'm too tall to hide!).  The hours and days fly by and even though I still have three weeks left I'm dreading when I have to say goodbye, the first goodbyes were already hard enough! :(

Kayak

My baby

Another huge part of summer has always been kayaking.  My family first started kayaking and canoeing when I was around ten years old and I got my own kayak when I was about thirteen.  I mean, why not kayak, there's so much water access around here.  Before I started going to Spain during the summer months, my dad and I used to take trips sponsored by the local Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association.  

This non-profit group ran 6-8 mile-long kayak trips called "Source to Sea" during the month of June.  They don't run that particular event anymore (as far as I know) but have many other great ones through the Spring-Fall.

The point being, I want as much kayak time as possible while I still have the rivers and the means.  Southern RI is home to many great rivers and salt ponds, I've even taken my baby out into the ocean a time or two.  Moving to Madrid means I'll definitely be much further away from the natural beauty I've grown up with in the country.  While I'm excited for some big city life, I'll seriously miss the experience you get kayaking down a pristine river.  

Beach

Beaches in RI, especially southern Rhode Island, are the way of life in the summer.  It's been so weird being home this summer but working so much that I have yet to purchase a beach pass, and I still don't know if I will...  It's doubled in recent years to $60 and I only have a month and a half left.  However, I refuse to let a summer go by without enjoying our beautiful beaches.  

Even beautiful on a cloudy day

Luckily my dad only lives about a mile from some of the local beaches so I'm planning on just parking there and riding my back instead (great exercise and saves money/the environment!).  I'm not really into paying $60 for only a month and a half of beach time when I can get it for free.

Gorgeous sunsets, what's not to love about the beach!

Unlucky for me though, the weather this week has been pretty awful and rainy so I haven't had any motivation to get out and go to the beach.  Hopefully one of these next couple of days the weather will turn around so I can enjoy some beach time before I move to the first place I've ever lived that is inland!  

As a beach bum (my friends and I seriously would even go in the winter), it's probably the thing about Madrid I'm least looking forward to.  I guess I'll just have to make plenty of visits to Santander to get my beach fix throughout the year!

Volunteering

I make everyone participate:
here is the BF lighting the fires

A huge part of my summers for the past four years has been volunteering with WaterFire Providence.  I've blogged about it before and as always, it's a beautiful experience and I highly recommend that anyone in the Providence area should look into either attending a lighting, or volunteering.  It's a great non-profit organization that promotes the arts in Providence.  I love WaterFire because it's like a family and it's always great to take part in any of the events.  I generally go on the wood boats with my dad, but have from time to time volunteered in other areas.

Unfortunately I'm at a disadvantage because I'm about an hour away from Providence so a lot of weekday or weekend morning events I can't attend because of work.  Since I can't make it for weekdays, I try to sign up for as many weekend evenings as I can.  

So far there haven't been too many lightings due to issues with the tide levels, but there is in fact one tonight starting around 8pm and will start to pick up more over the next few months until the final lighting of the season in November.  I know I've truly enjoyed being welcomed into the WaterFire family over the past few years. 

Concerts

I don't actually go to that many concerts during the summer, unless it's Blues on the Beach down in Westerly.  This year however as part of my early Christmas gift, since I won't be home for Christmas, is a Beach Boys concert at Monhegan Sun in a few weeks!  I'm beyond excited because next to the Beatles, the Beach Boys is my favorite band of all time.  I've always wanted to see them play, and while it may not be all the original members, I've never been so excited for any concert before.  And I think my mom is just as excited as I am!

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Family/Friends

This is probably self-explanatory, but spending time with my friends and family is also a huge part of my summertime in Rhode Island.  Hopefully I'll even get to visit one of my childhood friends in Maine who I haven't seen in a few years!  There's so many people I want to spend time with before the end of summer.  Even doing small things like getting Del's lemonade, going for a walk on the beach, or playing mini-golf is quality time with the people I care about.  Time that in a few months will be much harder to come by, so I'm trying to appreciate what I have while I still have it.

Throwback of the brother and I, you're welcome.

What are your summer plans so far?  Are there things you also like to typically do this time of year?

Learning to Love Life After College

Loving life after college, is that even possible?

My friends who recently graduated are quick to ask me: "So do you like life after college?",  "Do you ever miss being in college?"  And I can honestly say that yes I do like my life post-college and no I don't miss being in college.  Let me repeat.  I really, really like being a college graduate.

But don't take this as meaning that my transition into my 'new' life was seamless.  Last year I postponed my post-grad blues by traveling for the summer, but upon my return (and seeing my younger friends still in college) I had quite the case of blues.  I was mourning my time in college being over and feeling like I didn't even know who I was anymore.  For all of my young life I had been able to define myself as a student.  As a college graduate I couldn't introduce myself as 'an elementary education major,' but I wasn't quite a teacher yet...so who was I?

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A few months ago I wrote a post about surviving life after college, and I can honestly say that it is more than possible to not only survive but thrive in your new life after college.  If you're having a hard time adjusting to this huge change, here are some awesome reasons I've found from my first year after graduation of why you should start loving your life after college:

You're Beginning to Define the Real You

You're no longer a student or an aspiring author/nurse/doctor/psychologist/engineer/teacher.  Instead you are becoming that author, nurse, or teacher.  You are constantly defining yourself with every decision and opportunity you take, and how you deal with the experiences you are dealt.  Maybe you don't have your dream job yet, but what are you doing to work towards that goal?  Great opportunities and experiences may not always be job opportunities and your job does not define you.  Consider: volunteering, interning, taking courses, picking up a new hobby, learning something new, travel.  When it comes down to it do you want to be defined as the person sitting at home on the couch, or putting themselves out there and making the best out of your new life?

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I may not have my dream teaching job, but I haven't let it get me down.  Instead I found a way to gain some kind of experience in my field networking and build connections.  Now I'll even be moving abroad to experience and learn about another culture (lucky for me it's teaching English and is still in my chosen field of education!).  So while I may not have the title of 'teacher' to define me, I'm finding that I've had the freedom post-college to be who I really want to be.

You Can Do What Interests You

I may work seemingly non-stop, but I've found that outside of college I still have way more free time to pursue what interests me.  No one is telling me I need to squeeze in extra courses to graduate on time, I don't have to write papers, take exams, or do excessive amounts of homework.  Instead, I can learn and do what I want to.  When I was in college I can't remember the last time I was able to read something just for my enjoyment, usually it would have to wait for one of my vacation periods.  Now I can finally catch up on my reading list (subsequently full of books and novels on/about Spain), work on my knitting skills, improve my foreign language proficiency, and pursue many of the things that I just never had time for in college.

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Independence

Now I don't pretend that I have complete independence at the moment, but definitely more than in college.  I do live at home with my mom, but I must help clean more than just my own dorm space, help cook family meals, take care of my finances, etc. and I love it all.  I love cooking my own food and have become a much better cook because of it.  I can whip up my own sauces, can make things from scratch, and know how to balance healthy meals.  Also, taking care of my student loans on my own has given me a sense of independence.  Keeping track of payments and making sure they're always paid on time has really been empowering, letting me know that yes I can do it myself.

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Many recent college graduates may be forced to move back home with their families, but it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your independence.  If you find yourself in this situation talk with your family.  Discuss the boundaries you all want and what you each need from each other.  As I plan to move abroad in the Fall I definitely feel more prepared coming with a year out of college under my belt, even if I was living at home.

I Finally Have Some Money (keyword. some.)

I'm definitely not rich (haha rich, that's a joke right?), but working full-time and not having to pay all those college fees anymore means for once I actually have some money.  Granted it's all going to me being in Spain next year...but at least I have it, right?  The point is that even if you have to work multiple (often poorly paying) part-time jobs you can still make ends meet.  If you're like most college graduates, you won't be wealthy straight out of the gate, but once you're out of college and working full time you absolutely can work your way up to financial stability.  It all depends on how willing you are to work your butt off, if you have a budget that works for your life and needs, and if you know the ins and outs of your student loans/debt.  Even if your dream also happens to be working abroad and traveling the world (which can be affordable to all!).

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My Tips for Loving Your Life After College (From Experience):

Spend Time With Friends

College friends, high school friends, new friends.  It doesn't matter.  You don't have to sacrifice a social life to be an 'adult.'  Keep in mind though that: no not all of your friends will stay when you move onto this next stage of your life and yes it's much harder to make friends out of college.  Instead you will find out who's worth keeping in your life; maybe you won't have tons of friends but you'll keep the handful that matters.  And while it may be more difficult to make new friends, it's not impossible.  Put yourself out there, get involved, and try knew experiences where you can meet potential new friends.

Get Involved

Always a beautiful night at WaterFire,

If you're feeling lonely in your new life get involved in your community and organizations that you feel passionate about.  When your job has group activities for bonding try to go for the experience.  If that's not your thing or you don't work with employees your own age, research how you can get involved through community groups or volunteering.  I volunteer with WaterFire Providence because keeping the arts alive is something I feel passionate about.  Getting involved in something interesting/important to you can: help make your life rewarding, help make networking connections, look great on resumes, and help you in your quest to build new friendships.

Learn Something New

Improved my knitting and taught myself to crochet.

Just because you are done with college doesn't mean you should stop learning!  Visit your local library and browse the stacks for something that has always interested you.  Want to learn a new language?  Look at what resources you can find to become bilingual, or even multilingual!  Attend public lectures at your local university, see what community courses you can take, pick up a hobby, etc.  If you're looking to broaden your horizons and continue enriching your life, then the possibilities are endless.

Fit in Exercise

What's a better workout than sledding?

Always try to make time for exercise in your life.  Try to create a regular workout routine because keeping physically active in the long run will make you healthier and happier.  I personally find it easier to workout right when I get out of work in the evening because I'm much more motivated when I'm already out of my house and moving.  What has also helped me establish a routine has been taking a scheduled exercise class where I'm expected on a weekly basis.  Making physical activity a regular part of my life has not only made me happy and healthy, but in the best shape I've ever been.  There's always a way to sneak physical activity into your routine, whether it be parking further away and taking the stairs or hitting up the gym.

Learn How to Cook Healthy Meals

Delicious home-cooked
Spanish food

This is something I feel very strongly about, because not only will learning how to cook save you so much money, but knowing how to cook healthy, well-balanced meals is an invaluable skill that you will use for the rest of your life.  Thanks to the internet there are so many free resources at your fingertips you can use to get creative with recipes and cater to the tastes you prefer.  Your body, taste buds, and health will all thank you for learning how to make some delicious wholesome home-cooked meals.  (Not to mention it's a great way to impress your friends and family!)

Chocolate cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting from scratch...
ok this isn't that healthy, but it's delicious!

Live it Up-Always Look to Expand Your Horizons

Never think that just because you graduated college that your life is over.  No matter what your age, it's never too late to expand your horizons and live your life to the fullest.  If you're truly unsatisfied with your life, don't settle.  If you want something different, make that change.  Life is short and it's not worth wasting it being unhappy.  My grandmother always told me: "When one door closes, another opens."  College may be over, but you have this new wonderful door opening up to the rest of your life.  It all depends on what you do when you step outside.

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How have you learned to love your life after college?  What advice do you have for new graduates?

How Can YOU Afford to Travel?

When I talk about traveling and my plans for moving abroad in the fall everyone always asks me: "How can you afford to travel so much?"

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In my case, I've been really lucky.  My boyfriend's family is so incredibly kind and have opened up their home to me the past couple of years to visit.  Thanks to their generosity, I have been able to travel to Europe without a huge chunk of living expenses most travelers have to pay.  Despite my own luck, the reality is that travel really doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.  In fact, it's quite possible to have your travels be affordable.  Here are some of my tips I've learned from my personal experiences on how you can make traveling affordable for you and your lifestyle, even if you're a broke college graduate.

Work Hard

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Coming from a low-middle class family, with the responsibility of figuring out how to pay 90% of my college education, I always thought travel was out of the question for me.  Maybe splurging for a few trips here and there throughout my life, but traveling the world?  Never.  So I would pore over travel magazines, collections of maps, and my history books until I realized I wasn't going to be satisfied until I experience the 'real thing.'  So I worked my butt off.  I'm talking multiple jobs during college, six hour work weeks, and currently three part-time jobs.

Now I'm not saying work should take precedent over everything else in your life because not only will you be burned out and miserable, but you would be missing out on so much of your life that is passing you by.  If you want to travel but don't have a vast pool of money just lying around, then you will have to work hard, but never at the expense of your day to day happiness.

Research and Book Wisely

For the actual traveling, also research and book your trip wisely.  Researching for your trip, no matter where you're going, is always a smart thing to do.  Here is some of my advice I have found from my travels:

Flights
When searching for your for flights, always clear your search history and cookies.  You can be shown more expensive results based on what you have previously bought/searched for (also, try searching on a PC because Macs can also return more expensive results).  Search on multiple sites, but be wary of booking flights on sites like orbitz or travelocity because they can make it difficult/expensive to cancel or change plans.  In those cases, it may be best to find your flights there but book on the actual airlines' websites.  I've had great success using kayak.com and have heard good things about Student Universe.  Also, know the baggage regulations and fees for the airlines you are booking with.  Most domestic flights now charge for checked bags and have size/weight restrictions.  Here is an article I read recently about: "How to Find Affordable European Flights for the Summer;" for those not going to Europe, much of the advice is applicable to travel fares in general.

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Hotel/Hostel
Researching where you will be staying is also very important.  Always look at the location: is it safe?, is it touristic?, is there public transportation?, is it close to what you want to see/do?  Look at many things before making a final decision.  Does it have various pictures?  Does the advertised price include taxes and fees? Most people will tell you to look at the stars of a hotel/hostel, but I think it can often be even more important to look at the reviews.  I am far more willing to trust the actual experience of a person than to believe what the establishment itself has posted.

Restaurants/Entertainment
While sometimes these things can be best decided upon spontaneously, it is nice to look into options to anticipate how much you plan on spending and how you can fit in everything you may want to see.  Check out some travel blogs and forums, search a little on the web, see what people are recommending for some good local eats and unique places to visit.  If in doubt when choosing a place to eat, I always use advice my dad once gave me: if you go to a restaurant during a normal meal time (this is culturally dependent, for example lunch time in Spain is around 2/3pm and dinner is closer to 10pm) and it's empty, then it may not have the best food.  Another indicator, is who is eating at a restaurant.  If you're in a foreign country and it's just tourists, then you may want to wander a little bit more for something more authentic.  As for entertainment, research any passes you can get if you don't qualify for discounts offered wherever you may be visiting.  In Paris I got the Museum Pass and it saved me a lot of money!

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Take Advantage of Discounts
If you can manage to travel off season, see if you can.  Often flights, hotels, and sometimes entertainment will be much cheaper.  When I flew to Spain in February last year my flight was only $690 round-trip and this past January when my boyfriend flew here to visit me it was only $630 round-trip (as opposed to my flight to Spain in July last summer that was a whopping $1000, but I was there two months so it wasn't so bad considering).  And if you happen to be a student, or in the case of Europe under 26, you could qualify for some major discounts.  Wherever you travel see if you meet the requirements for any discounts whether it be with your school ID, an international student card, AAA membership, or the likes.  You can get some great deals on anything from museums to trains, and in the long run this could save you a lot of money!

Budget Accordingly

No matter how hard you might work, it's all for nothing if you don't budget accordingly.  Another part of the reason I've been able to travel so frequently, is because I budget all of the money I earn.  First things first, look at all of that research you have done: where do you want to travel, how long do you want to go for, what to you want to do/see, and how much will it all cost.  Once you have a working idea of your travel plans, create a budget of how much you can afford to spend on the trip. This great website has a free travel budget planner that can help you get started on travel budget.  With your estimated travel costs, see how you can afford to make your plans a reality.

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My personal advice then would be to also have a non-travel budget that takes into account your regular payments and monthly salary.  As I discussed in my previous post Budgeting Life After College, this would help you know your biggest expenses and set your financial priorities.  That way you can start saving up for your travel fund without A) Putting yourself in debt or B) Making it impossible to pay off the debt you may already have.  The money you save for travel should not interfere with the bills or other necessary payments you need to make on time.  I use the travel budget to estimate my travel costs and then apply it to my regular budget to see how much I need to/can afford to save per month.

Live Within Your Means

Something that goes hand and hand with budgeting is living within your means.  Between all my jobs I probably barely make a measly $14,000/year, yet I have already managed to save up enough for my flight to Spain, three months of living expenses in Madrid, and two years worth of my student loan payments.  How did I do?  Because along with keeping my budget, I know how to purchase wisely and do without.

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To save money this year: I have been living at home, I drive my mom's old car, and I limit my spending.  I rarely go out to eat or drink, instead my friend's often opt to stay in and cook for ourselves and enjoy some drinks.  When I do go out, still a couple times a month, I always look for drink or meal specials (this is when it really helps living only fifteen minutes away from a major University, I love all the local cheap eats).  And while I do love clothes I frequent: sales racks, thrift stores, and seasonal sales.  I have become a master at revamping my wardrobe without spending a fortune, and I think I dress pretty darn well!  The point is, that yes, you may have to sacrifice some of those fancy new 'things' all your friends seem to have (and when have material objects brought as much happiness as actual experiences anyway?), but you don't have to sacrifice enjoying your life to be able to afford to traveling.

Look at How You Can Work/Study Abroad

Another great way to do some traveling is to work, study, or even volunteer abroad.  What's great about these options is that some may offer a stipend, scholarships, or even opportunity for room and board.  The program I'm doing next year is offered through the Spanish government and I am given a monthly stipend for teaching English in a public elementary school.  You can look at studying abroad through your university, or look into language academies if you only have a couple months to spare (generally they don't give you visas to study there so your time will be limited).  Here are some options I have seen posted through my own university or via articles I have read about:

Work
Jobs Abroad-Work Abroad
Transitions Abroad-Guide to Work, Study, Travel and Living Abroad
Aupair World

Spain Related Work:
Auxiliares Ministry Program
BEDA
UCETAM
Au Pair in Spain

Volunteer
Global Volunteers
Global Aware-Adventures in Service
Earthwatch Institute
10 Volunteer Programs for Budget Travelers
10 Volunteer Opportunities for Free Travel

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What tips do you have on being able to afford travel?  How have you managed to travel on your budget?

Why You Should Be a WaterFire Volunteer

What exactly is WaterFire?

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WaterFire is the brainchild of artist Barnaby Evans.  It is a sculpture that is run by WaterFire Providence, a non-profit organization that promotes the arts, culture, and community of Providence, Rhode Island.  Throughout the late Spring to the early Fall, the rivers of Providence are lit up by seventy-nine braziers nearly every other weekend.

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The very first WaterFire was intended to just be a part of the ten-year anniversary of Providence's New Year's Eve "First Night" celebration in 1994 in the movement to help revitalize the city.  It started with only eleven braziers and now, almost twenty years later, has become a Rhode Island mainstay.  In fact, WaterFire has attracted over 10 million visitors to Providence since its creation; drawing an average crowd of 40,000 per lighting.

The TD Ballroom at WaterFire, source

And to the surprise of most audience members unfamiliar with the organization, WaterFire is not just about the fires on the rivers.  During the various lightings there are often living statues, a ballroom open to the public with local dancers or bands,  interactive art displays, ethnically diverse sponsors or performances, and often celebrated members of the local Providence and Rhode Island communities.  It is a spectacle that brings together the arts and community of Providence.  And WaterFire has gone global, with fires brought to Ohio, Missouri, Singapore, Venice, and even Rome.

WaterFire is free and open to the public, but as a non-profit relies on donations, grants, merchandise sales, and sponsors for over 75% of its funding.  To put this into perspective, one year-long season of WaterFire costs around 1.6 million dollars.

2011 September 11th Tribute Lighting, source

So why exactly should you become a part of WaterFire?

WaterFire Providence only has a regular staff of about twenty and that's where we volunteers come in.  Many may not realize it, but there are so many ways to become a WaterFire volunteer!

2011 Gloria Gemma Lighting, source

There are the wood-boats, access boat, and VIP boats that visitors see on the river, but there is also a huge need for help on-shore.  Volunteers are always needed to help in the Merchandise Tent, fundraising with Ribbons of Light or Starry, Starry Night, and participating in Special Ops where you can partake in anything from a torch procession to guiding special guests through an event.

For just one full lighting it takes around 200 volunteers to help run everything necessary to put on this spectacular event.  And that number is only for the lighting itself, not including the hours of work that goes on in the WaterFire studio during the week to repair and create what is needed for the lightings.  Or the 'Woodpile Workouts' where volunteers meet to stack and refill the wood needed for each event.

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All of the hundreds of volunteers are an invaluable part of the WaterFire family.  This is my fourth season as a WaterFire volunteer, and from the very beginning I have never been treated so kindly and welcomed so warmly from a group of 'strangers' then I have from the WaterFire staff and volunteer family.  I may be one of the younger volunteers, but everyone has always been quite clear that I am equally a part of the WaterFire community.

The Wood-Boats line up; as Barnaby
says, we are like Prometheus
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While WaterFire lightings may be beautiful to watch, I think they are also beautifully symbolic.  WaterFire showcases both the fragility of life, as fires are suspended over the water of the rivers, as well as the celebration of community. The volunteers all dress in black, and as a community we work together anonymously to tend the fires and support our organization.  However, our faces always remain visible showing that even though we are working together as a singular community unit, we still retain our individual identities as we support something that is greater than all of us on our own. 

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As a volunteer with WaterFire you are involved in something bigger than yourself, and it's all about coming together to celebrate the unity and spirit of Providence as well as an appreciation for the arts.

This amazing organization vividly displays the beauty that happens when the Rhode Island community comes and works together to support the arts, our state, and each other.  If you don't believe me, join the WaterFire family for yourself and help to keep the fires burning in Providence.

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Find out more about WaterFire Providence here:

Volunteer for WaterFire

2013 Schedule

WaterFire Facebook Page

Surviving Life After College

It's getting to be that time of year...  College graduation time.

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All over the country college seniors are finalizing all their projects, essays, theses, and internships while preparing for their plunge into the adult world.  A lot of my graduating friends have mentioned how scared they are to take this giant step, and that's normal!  Graduating college is a scary thing.  I remember last year at this time, with only a few weeks remaining of my senior year, feeling excited, afraid, and anxious all at the same time.  All of this mixed with relief that you're almost done with all those years of school, a dash of excitement that you're finally on the road to starting your real life, and more fear at the fact that 'Oh crap.  You're actually starting your real life!'  But don't worry; it's not as bad as you think!  I promise that you will get through it and who knows, you may even enjoy your post-college life more!  To help you along here are my tips on surviving life after college (in no particular order):

Have Working Goals and Plans

One big piece of pre-graduation advice is to have some working goals or plans in your head on what you want to do after college, both short-term and (relatively) long-term.  Many choose graduate school right out of college, some already have careers lined up, but the majority fall into the 'I have no idea what I'm doing with my life now.'  To help answer that dreaded question: 'so what are you going to do in the fall?' it's important to start thinking of the options out there.  My main goal after graduation was to move to Spain the following year with one of the English teaching programs I had researched [Auxiliares de Conversación, BEDA, UCETAM, CIEE (offered in 7 countries), and Fulbright ETA (offered globally, check site for details)].

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With all of this in mind I knew I would have to start planning for the applications, start saving money for the initial living expenses abroad, save for student loans payments while abroad, and gain as much experience as possible beforehand.  I planned my budget around what I wanted to do and found enough jobs to cover the expenses I estimated I would need to put my plans into action.  Because I had these working goals in mind so early I am nearly saved up for the flight to Spain, the first three months abroad (in case of payment issues), and my student loan payments for next year.  Remember, it doesn't need to be set goals or plans.  I started out with the idea of going abroad and then worked out how I could make it possible!  If you have your mind set on something you can make it work too!

Get a Job (Any Job)

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That leads into this piece of advice: get a job.  Easier said than done right?  Unfortunately it may not be a dream job in your career but any job is better than no job.  And three jobs are better than one job, right...?  Before you graduate see if the career services office at your university can look over your resume, go to as many job fairs as you can, and if all else fails find some job(s) that help you get by until you kick butt all the way to your dream job.  I graduated with a degree in elementary education and history and I applied for multiple teaching jobs upon graduation but was not chosen (I guess it's difficult when 300+ people applied for one position...), instead I continued with my goals set on Spain and looked for other jobs in the education/childcare field.

I finally decided to take the traditional route to becoming a full-time teacher and applied to be a substitute teacher in different school districts.  On top of that I was hired to be the site director of an after-school program run by the local YMCA, it's not perfect but it works for me because I can still sub in the morning and once a week I work the desk at the Y for my free gym membership.  Try to find something (anything) in your desired field to gain experience and if it's not enough, find another job to help make ends meet until a better offer comes along.  Those pesky student loans won't pay themselves!

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Organize and Understand Your Student Loans/Debt

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Oh student loans, the bane of my existence.  At best they can be confusing and at worst they just make you want to burst into tears.  If you can, get some loan counseling from your university before you graduate.  Start looking at the terms and policies of your student loans; know when your grace period ends, estimate your monthly payments, know what your interest rates are, look into payment plans/deferrals/forbearance if you do not have enough for the monthly payments.  Familiarize yourself with the websites that your loans are based out of so that when you do have to make the payments you know what you'll have to do.  If you can afford to make some payments before your grace period ends to help pay down the principal balance.

I have all government loans and I chose to have the payments drafted from my bank account directly so I don't forget any payments, it had the added bonus that this payment method reduces my interest rates by .25%.  If you start looking at your loans now it won't be so frustrating months from now when you have to start those painful payments!

Create a Budget

I cannot say enough how important it is to create a good working budget.  A good budget will help you organize your finances, keep you on track for your saving goals, and help you retain your sanity as the reality of student loans/debt hits you like a high-speed train.  There are many different budget templates on the internet and most banks may offer some on their websites/locations too.  Find one that works for your life and saving needs.  If your first budgeting attempt doesn't work, don't stick with that template.  I am constantly changing the format of my budget to better suit my needs.  Budgets are meant to make your life easier, not stress you out more.  I think it is most important to consider your income, bills, emergency funds, monthly necessities and saving needs prior to leisure/spending money.  Once what you know what you owe or how much you have to save up for, then you can see how much you have left to spend on going out and entertainment purposes.  That way you can keep from overspending.

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Don't Let the Post-Grad Blues Get You Down

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Adjusting to life after college is not easy.  Many of us went from living in a dorm or with friends to moving back home with our families.  You lose that sense of community, your independence, and your own private space.  The transition from college life to the 'real world' often leaves us with some good old post-grad blues wondering why did we think graduation was good?  What do you do now with your life?  It's hard to say when all you've ever known was being in school and with this economy not giving us the best job market.  This feeling may be stronger for those who still have friends in college.  I know visiting my friends still at my old university makes me feel out of place, like you don't belong anymore; only making the emotions of leaving more challenging.

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Hold in there though, it gets better.  It's important to remember that you're not alone and that many people are trying to come to terms with the same feelings.  I felt the same at first, but once I started working I actually realized that I LOVE life after college.  I love not having classes and I love working, feeling that for once I'm actually taking myself somewhere instead of just doing the classes and work because I have to graduate.  You may be busy, you may be broke, but you are starting out on your crazy, beautiful life and you find that you start doing things you love because you want to do them.  So stay positive and busy and you'll work through those post-grad blues in no times.

Work on your Relationships

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One negative about life after college is dealing with the relationships in your life, and not just the romantic ones.  Out of college it's much harder to meet new people.  You're not constantly surrounded by a community of people around your own age and it can be hard to keep in touch with your friends still in college because of your different schedules.  To make new friends, try to talk with other employees where you work; do you share common interests?  You could look at different social activities in your local community.  Are there any organizations or groups that interest you?  Volunteering is also a great option to meet new and interesting people.  Plus all the new, amazing people you will meet will be a great way to network for your dream job!





With your college friends you already have, part of the challenge may be in the distance that you may be apart now, if this is the case be sure to keep and touch and try to visit when you can.  Having a friend in another city or state is a great reason to take a road trip!  If your college friends are still nearby try to get together when your schedules can work out.  I know how challenging this can be; with my friends it often seems like we're on completely different time frames.  During the week I go to bed much earlier than they do and I often get out of work too late to want to drive over.  If the friendship is worth it, keep putting the effort in and eventually it will work out.

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As for romantic relationships, many people may find themselves in a long distance relationship if they were from different cities, states, or even countries!  Like with your college friends you may be apart from, try to make it work by talking and visiting as often as you can.  Anything is possible if you want it and work enough to keep it strong.  It may not be easy, but a long distance relationship with the right person can absolutely be worth it.

Find a Hobby

This may sound like a silly survival tip, but finding a hobby is a great way to help beat the post-grad blues and work on your relationships.  I know that being busy and working on something I genuinely was interested in helped me get over my bout of post-grad blues.  In my spare time I practice my Spanish, go to the gym, read a lot of books, work on my scrapbooks, and knit.  I know some of those hobbies may not sound interesting for everyone (knitting may not be the 'coolest') but for me they're a perfect way to keep happy and busy when I'm not working.  And some of these are even better because my friends enjoy them too, nothing is better than a hobby you can do with friends and on your own.

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Another thing I enjoy, not quite a 'hobby', is volunteering.  I volunteer for an organization called WaterFire Providence.  It's a non-profit arts organization based out of Providence that sets up events sponsoring the arts every other weekend during the summers (in the Providence locations).  It's based around the fires that are lit around the rivers in Providence, and this upcoming season will be my fourth volunteering on the wood boats.  I was even asked to train to be a captain this season and will have my first training coming up in a few weeks.  Check out the website here: WaterFire Providence.  It's been a great way to meet new people and a great way to network, on the boats we meet a lot of important people in Rhode Island who are our guests.  If you have the opportunity to volunteer somewhere I suggest you take it, it's one of the best feelings to do something you love and help others at the same time.

Enjoy Every Minute!

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Last, but certainly not least, is to enjoy every minute of your life.  Remember that it's your life and do with it what you want and what makes you happy.  If you want to travel, travel.  If you want want to move to another state, do it.  If you want to gets a Master's or PhD, don't let anything stop you.  Live so that you don't regret a single choice you make.  Even if you can't afford your dreams right now, work your butt off and do it a few years down the road; you're never too old for happiness.  Surviving life after college may be a struggle at times, and you may get down, but always remember that you can do it.  Remember to stop and smell the roses, that sometimes those 'huge' problems really aren't so big.  And most importantly remember that yes, you are tough enough and yes, you deserve the best.  So enjoy what life after college brings you!

What are your tips for surviving life after college?