What’s next after grad?

If you’re graduating this year, mapapatanong ka talaga “what’s next after grad?” Am I going to be successful? Magiging worth it ba yung ilang years ko spending time, money and effort sa college? Does taking master’s degree after after grad, makes me even more advance than my colleague? Magkakaroon ba ako ako ng stable job? Itong mga tanong na pumapasok sa isipan ko while I’m few steps away to graduation. Para akong naghahabol sa oras, I’m too old to wait yet I’m too young also to rush things. Wala ba itong pause moment na “teka lang, pwede bang huminga? magpahinga? pwede bang sandali lang muna?”

Naiisip mo rin ba, is this the path that is really destined to you na dapat tatahakin mo or eskinita lang to na dapat mo lang daanan? Na kailangan mo lang tapusin just because of the people around you? We are tracing different timeline sabi nila. Umuusad tayo sa sarili nating mga oras, tayo ang gumagawa ng sarili nating daan. Pero bakit parang naka-stuck lang ako? Tila mga kamay lang ng orasan yung gumagalaw. Nauunahan na nang takot na baka mahuli na ako sa lahat. The fear that I need to face para lang sa validation ng ibang tao sa akin, na hindi pwedeng magpahinga dahil “si ano, ganito na” “si ano, may ano na” then “ikaw, ano na?” “ano na yung napagtagumpayan mo?”

I just want to tell every young adult like me facing so much expectations and validations from other people. DON’T LISTEN to them, they’re just a voice who are trying to stop you for being who you are and doing what you really want to do. Just take things slowly but surely, life is not a race it is a lifelong marathon. You’re the only one who could answer “What’s next after you grad?” Take it easy, you can run as fast as you can to achieve what you want, you can also walk. The finish line will still there no matter how long you will take. Congratulations!