Questions I'm Asking Myself as I Approach Graduation

These past few years have been spent with my head down plugging away in my program. All nighter after all nighter, countless weekends spent in studio and hours working on projects refining my skills. I’ve enjoyed the time being pushed by my professors, my creative peers and my dreams that seemed far on the horizon.  

I’ve finally come up for air to realize that graduation is on the horizon. My parents called me today to discuss my graduation party and the budget for it. That’s how close this is to completion.  

For so long it was too far away with so much work to do to get there. I couldn’t even imagine what finishing would look like and what it would look like after I finish.  

Instead I have been building up my necessary skills to advance in the program, creating my portfolio, applying for and getting into studio, starting Junior studio and then moving over the hall to Senior studio to work on thesis. Now here I am, with thesis completion and graduation slowly creeping up on me.  

With this realization, it’s time to self-reflect and make sure my next steps align with all the hard work I’ve been pushing towards these last few years.  

Pausing and finding time to ask questions that make sure you are striving in the right direction is important, especially when you've found yourself nearing an end of a chapter to start a new one.  

​Here are the questions that I’m asking myself to make sure I am moving in the right direction post-graduation. 

• Who am I pressing towards to be? 
• Who do I want to be in 5 years, 10 years?  
• Where do I want to be in 5 years, 10 years? 
• What are my exact goals? 
• How do I take the steps to achieve them, so I don’t stay stagnant?  
• What little things am I doing every day to make sure I can achieve my goals? 
• What lies have I been telling myself about my abilities and worth?  
• What narrative am I creating in my head that is false? 
• How do I quiet the fears and press towards a life that is fearless? 
• Who are my role models in my field and why? 
• What do I see my role models doing and how can I emulate that in my own fashion? 
• Am I being a good role model?  

These are just a few of the questions I am asking myself as I take steps towards graduation and reevaluate what life will look like post-graduation.   
This program has grown and stretched me in countless ways and I’m eager to see what is to come post-graduation.  
Now my challenge for you is to pause, reflect and re-evaluate your goals and make sure you are pressing towards them in a realistic fashion. It’s a great exercise, especially when you’re plugging away at something with no reference as to where you are going next.