Vocal Verified—Life After Graduation

It's graduation season, and thousands of students are walking across the stage to grab their diplomas and run off to the next stage of their lives. Some may downplay that diploma as a fancy piece of paper with pretty writing, but it represents years of hard work and persistence. More than that, it represents how much the student has grown, the experiences they've had, and the obstacles they've overcome. Everyone's experienced the pain of crunch time, and we all know how much dedication it takes to get to morning classes on time. When you have your diploma in one hand and you're throwing your graduation cap into the air with the other, it's important to remember that all those hours spent were worth it in the end.

But even after all that, so many recent, or soon-to-be, graduates feel uncertain about their futures. There are cities to move to, careers to build, and ever-looming student loans to be paid.

To save you some stress and anxiety, I've gathered some of our creators' guides and advice for graduates entering the next phase of their lives. Give them a read, leave your favorite stories a tip, or share some of your experiences with graduation.

If you're not already a creator, you can sign up here to get started.

To read more stories about graduation, check out Education, our community for education.

"I sometimes can't believe I will be done with school (besides college), and that I will be moving on in my life."—McKie Hunt

"Please take your rightful place as the graduates in this very challenging world."—Maurice Bernier

"I should be proud of what I've done so far, what I'm doing now, and what I will achieve in the future. And you know what? I am."—Jordanna Romano

"School definitely taught me I don't want to be a mathematician."—Zachary Boulanger

"I realised a whole two years of my life, all the hard work and tears, was coming down to a single piece of paper."—Leigh Hooper

"Please don't wish your high school years away because pretty soon this will be you. It doesn't hit you until your name is called, but once it does, there's no turning back."—Madison Rheam

"After graduation is when you enjoy the few weeks with all your friends before everyone goes off to start their new chapter in life."—Angel Allsop

"Most people should have a good idea of what they want to do after they graduate and I, just like everyone else, knew exactly what I wanted to do, and that was join the military."—j sdf

"I am preparing to complete my senior year in high school and already I'm thinking about my future."—Savannah Nyberg

"What I am going to talk about are all the great moments you’re going to have."—Charlie Rodriguez

"I thought of a few tips that could help seniors in high school succeed and live their best lives and to set themselves up for success before they have to face the real world."—Skyler Bennett

"This is a time to engage in some deep self-discovery, to take some risks for the things you care about..."—Francesca Mamlin

"On Facebook, parents are encouraging their kids to follow their dreams. Come on, you’re a parent and should have good advice."—Rich Monetti

"Of all the accomplishments he has had in his college career, the one that means the most is when other people tell me what a great kid I have."—Allison Saia

"I do firmly believe that life is about satisfying your soul, however that may be, and that is my utmost pursuit."—Sparks of Spontaneity

"Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment, one that definitely needs to be celebrated."—Amanda Lin

"I've got about ten tabs open, a couple of career quizzes, CV advice pages, potential new courses to learn, jobs to apply for, and some volunteer opportunities are thrown in."—Jac Renouard

"Education is an investment. One we have taken for granted for far too long."—Paulina Pachel

"I know you all may be wondering that same thing. Could it be graduate school? Finding a job in my field? Pursuing motivational speaking? Writing a book?"—Sylvester Long

"Make sure you take the time to look after yourself whilst you commit to your graduate job search."—Letitia Payne

"You'll be chasing a vocation in a lifelong adventure of ups, downs, lefts, rights, and even some diagonals along the way."—Harry Bullmore

"Now that you've crossed the finish line, it's time to find and conquer your next challenge."—Alyssa Wilson

"I'm happy with my progress thus far, but it's also incredibly overwhelming."—Danielle Murray

"But don’t give up; you will reach your dream career, and you will find that job that you absolutely love."—Simcha Glassman