4Cs student Robert Foster looking frustrated while researching job applications. (Chris Bixby)
By Chris Bixby
A common question college students face is: “What’s next?”
After years of education, students are often expected to have a clear plan for their future. While thinking ahead is important, many say that pressure to have everything figured out can lead to stress and confusion.
4Cs students shared how that pressure shows up in their lives, where it comes from and how they cope with it.
Robert Foster said he does not always feel pressure to have his future fully mapped out, but he understands why others might.
“It’s always good to have plans and ideas of what I want to do in relation to psychology,” Foster said. “At the same time, I don’t want to make assumptions yet if it hasn’t been officially confirmed. I have to decide what I want to do, but if I decide too quickly, I’m going to regret it. My emotions have been going back and forth a lot lately, so I don’t want to make the wrong decision before I’ve fully committed.”
Foster said the pressure comes from multiple sources.
“Mainly from myself, family, school and somewhat my job,” he said. “But I just want to do what’s best for me. I want to do what makes me happiest. Something I enjoy and something that really interests me.”
He added that a strong support system can help ease that stress.
“Be with people like close friends and family that you can trust,” Foster said. “Your advisors, cousins and relatives. Personally, I would give myself advice to them because I don’t want to give false information when I haven’t figured it out yet. So it’s always good to be with people that you can trust.”
Noah Fayne, also a 4Cs student, feels pressure to figure out his future because of his age.
“I’m 25, and I feel a lot of pressure to have everything figured out,” Fayne said. “It stresses me out because I’m not sure what I want to do or where I want to go. It feels like I have a bunch of doors in front of me—flight school, moving up at Lowe’s, going into corporate after my degree, switching companies, getting OSHA certified or going into construction for more money. I never really know what to choose. I do like working at Lowe’s, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with staying there while I figure things out.”
Fayne said the pressure is largely internal, though he sometimes feels outside expectations.
“Being 25 isn’t a great feeling for me,” he said. “I’m not thrilled about it. I’m five years away from 30, and I still don’t have my life figured out, or know what I want to do, which stresses me out. Sometimes it feels like people older than us, family, professors or others, expect us to have everything figured out, but we don’t. My family isn’t really like that, though. My dad supports whatever career path I choose as long as I’m happy and reminds me there’s no rush because there’s still time.”
His advice is to stay open to new opportunities.
“Give it time,” Fayne said. “Definitely try different things and see what’s out there. You may find something you like that you never would have thought you’d enjoy. Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to take risks and go for that promotion. I look at myself a year ago. I didn’t want a promotion at work. I didn’t want to be a supervisor. Absolutely not. But now I find myself really wanting that job. Things change. Feelings change. Don’t be afraid to try new things.”
Cecilia de Punte, another 4Cs student, said societal expectations and college structure contribute to the pressure.
“I think a lot of it is society and also from the way college is set up because college is set up in a way where you’re supposed to determine your major by your freshman year and a lot of times that rushes you to make a decision even if you haven’t fully thought it through or have decided what you want to do,” she said.
De Punte said she tries to guide herself with curiosity rather than pressure.
“I guess the way I’ve tried to tell myself throughout time is to let curiosity be my compass,” she said. “I know that sounds a little cringy but it’s really my best advice because I don’t worry about a label, whether that’s a major or a career or a job. Spend your time more so following what makes you feel passionate and curious and excited and let that lead you somewhere.”
