Embracing The Uncertainty of Life After College

By Jody Bell

Last week marked the culmination of my college journey. 

To be honest, amidst the continuous flow of congratulations and tearful goodbyes, I failed to fully grasp the significance of this milestone until the commencement ceremony drew to a close.

Those next twenty-four hours as a college graduate were a whirlwind of introspection. The realization struck me with full force: I was on the precipice of true adulthood. No longer would my purpose solely revolve around absorbing knowledge within the confines of a classroom. The expectations were higher, urging me to make a tangible impact on the world. But as I pondered these weighty thoughts, questions swirled in my mind. What had I taken for granted during this chapter of my life? How would my existence transform once I shed the identity bestowed upon me by my student ID lanyard? And most significantly, after spending my entire life preparing for this moment, what awaited me beyond the threshold of graduation?

I don’t have answers to any of these questions - and I don’t expect to for quite some time. Life has a way of hurling us forward at such a rapid pace that we fail to take stock of the moments slipping through our fingers. But occasionally, epiphanies strike us with a sudden intensity, illuminating the passage of time in all its relentless velocity. And when these epiphanies strike, we are often left with monumental unanswerable questions.

For driven and motivated students, adept at unraveling the complexities of the world, encountering questions that defy resolution can be scary to say the least. We excel at finding solutions, at untangling the knotted threads of life. But when was the last time we confronted an unanswerable question that pertained to our own selves? For me, this was a first.

For students, life, unfolds within the framework of structure. We navigate the corridors of high school, striving for academic excellence, before embarking upon the hallowed halls of college, diligently pursuing knowledge and achievement. And yet, what lies beyond the prescribed trajectory? How do we measure success and find validation when the familiar constraints of the academic grading system fade away? For so long, my identity has been intertwined with that of a student, and now, as I stand at the precipice of the future, uncertainty is all I can feel.

The archway of my alma matter reads “ΓΝΩΘΙ ΣΑΨTON,” or “Know Thyself” in the ancient tongue of Greece - which honestly feels a bit ironic. As a graduate, I find myself faced with a paradox; in the pursuit of knowledge, of growth, and self-discovery, I am left with more questions than ever before.

But perhaps, this paradox is a gift in disguise. It is within the realm of unanswerable questions that we actually find ourselves. The quest for self-validation, for purpose, and meaning, doesn’t exist in a framework of structure as it did in academia. Life is not an endgame with a finite set of rules and steps to follow. It is an ongoing pursuit of joy in a life riddled with uncertainty around every corner.

So, as I step into the uncharted territory beyond graduation, I am trying my absolute best to embrace the uncertainty – to relinquish the need for immediate answers and instead revel in the beauty of the questions themselves. As corny as it may sound, I think it is in the pursuit of these unanswerable questions that the true essence of life is revealed—the endless exploration of self, the unwavering determination to unravel the mysteries of existence.

College, at the end of the day, is not supposed to simply grace you with knowledge. In fact, I don’t remember anything that happened in my math courses, or most of my General Education classes that aren’t related to my major. But, college is supposed to prepare you for life. And life outside of academia is uncertain.

So as this school year comes to a close, I urge you, regardless of where you are in your academic pursuits, to embrace these unanswerable questions. Or, at least begin to ask them. Speaking from a graduate who is now living the reality of uncertainty, it is equal parts intimidating and pretty gosh darn beautiful. For in the vast expanse of the unknown, we might just end of discovering the profound beauty of who we are and who we are yet to become. 

Jody Bell, 21 is Girls With Impact’s Editor in Chief and a program graduate from Greenwich High School. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, business and leadership program for girls 14-24, turning them into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.