With graduation day just around the corner, seniors everywhere are teeming with excitement; ready to hold their diplomas, throw their caps into the air and kiss the undergrads goodbye. Some people will continue their education in graduate school, while others have a job or two lined up — or maybe a summer internship. Then there is you, unsure of what the future holds and anxiously anticipating your journey. However, do not fret! If you do not have any solid plans for post-grad yet, there is no need to panic. Just breathe.

First thing first; remember that you are not alone. There are thousands of college graduates who, no matter how hard they try, cannot seem to solidify their future. However, no one can be sure of what their future holds. Just because you may not know what you want to do right away does not mean you are off to a bad start; it just means you are off to an interesting, self fulfilling journey. With that being said, you should not compare your journey to the journeys of your fellow graduates, simply because everyone is on their own path. There are plenty of ways to stay productive while finding yourself or waiting to land a job in a profession that you actually enjoy. In the meantime, here are some things you should do while you wait.

Do not be ashamed of your journey or listen to judgements coming from those around you. Your personal goals do not need to be quote unquote more realistic because you owe it to yourself to achieve them all. You are worth it!

Dance classes, internships, horseback riding lessons, yoga, the list goes on and on. The goal of participating in extracurricular activities should be to have new experiences that allow for exploration and personal growth. Taking extra curricular classes is a great way to continue learning and expanding your horizons outside of the classroom or lecture hall. This may be key to finding hidden passions and if not, it certainly is a great way to meet new people and make connections. Taking classes is also a way to acquire new skills for your resume. This brings me to my next point.

One of the best ways to spend time off is by helping someone else. Not only does volunteering present the chance to change lives, it is also a key element in developing interpersonal and organizational skills; furthermore, experience volunteering is something that most job recruiters love to hear about. These hands on learning experiences open the opportunity to work in different fields — one of which could potentially be the right fit.

Traveling offers exposure to different cultures and people and often improves communication skills, as you need to understand and identify with many different people while travelling abroad. Travel also tests your independence as you navigate in unfamiliar places and step out of your comfort zone. Best of all, through travel one can take on extracurricular and volunteer work which allows for interaction with locals and the development of a diverse network.

It is always a good idea to find a mentor. This can be a very useful step on the journey toward success as many mentors help mentees network, while introducing them to different opportunities.

In conclusion, while doing all of the above, remember to be patient with yourself and run your own race. Live to please yourself and take the necessary time to better and brace yourself for the bright future you have ahead.