What are your post grad plans?

Every senior’s nightmare question. 

I go to Rice University. The wannabe Ivy, Harvard of the South, small liberal school. Have you heard of it?

Rice has been the greatest blessing and curse of my personal and academic life. It’s a school of overachievers that amplifies the pressures of the world all in just 300 acres. A pressure cooker of academics, researchers, and creatives. We have a cult of busyness here at Rice. In order to feel like you’re doing enough you have to be at 18 credit hours, 10-15 research hours, a part-time job, an internship, three friend groups, two clubs, and still have time to eat and sleep. It’s exhausting.

Maybe I’m exaggerating, but I’m drained.

Now I’ve made it to my senior year. I’ve done the internships, the part-time jobs, the research projects, the credit hours, the clubs, and still managed to have a social life (go me!). But why is it that when someone asks me about my post graduation plans, it bothers me so much. Can I have a moment to breathe?

The goal for me was always getting to college. I devoted my entire life to making it here and now I have to leave. Like most first generation students, we are told going to college will solve all our problems. “You need to go to school mija so you can become rich and take care of all of us”, my grandma would often tell me. I made it, but now what? Reaching the end of my senior year, I am constantly asked the dreaded question about my post graduation plans. 

I go back and forth between panic and peace. Ultimately, I’m actively choosing peace. I take things day by day, enjoying my last moments on campus as an undergrad. Not everything has to be figured out. There is plenty of life to live. I think the thing I don’t like is the finality to it all. It almost feels like my whole life is relying on this next year. But it isn’t. I’m only 21. I’m allowed to fail again and again. I can wake up when I’m 50 and just choose to start over. 

But that still doesn’t answer the question. And I’m not naive. I know I have bills, career aspirations, and “the time is now”. I know I’ll only be at this moment in my life once. Now the panic sets in. Friends share their job acceptances, grad school plans, and next chapters of their lives. Am I falling behind? Well, I’ve been applying to jobs and internships. Constantly updating my resume and talking to professionals in my interested fields. No matter what industry, position, or background, they all give me the same advice. Enjoy this time in your life.

Now is my time to try something new—to pick up that side quest, live in a new city, join that run club, get that puppy. I hate how narrow the “post-graduation plans” question is. And I don’t blame people for asking. It makes sense in a society that values constant progress, more and “go go go.” It’s only natural to try to understand how I’m going to keep building.

But as I reflect on that question, I realize I’m asking something different. Not just what’s next? but why does it have to be about building at all? What if the goal isn’t just to move forward, but to live more fully?

What are my post-grad plans?

No idea. But I do know I’ve always wanted to try bartending, to live in Austin for a year, and to get a long-haired Dachshund. And for now, that’s enough.