I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty nervous about finding a job after graduation. In fact, I’m only just starting to come to terms with the fact that I’m actually quite terrified about finding a job after graduation. This is largely due to the fact that conversations about the future still freak me out, even at my ripe old age of 21 (the word ‘mortgage’ actually makes me shudder, I kid you not), and I’m definitely still having a difficult time dealing with the fact that this really is my last year here at Scripps. It seems like just yesterday I was receiving my first roommate assignment in the mail (and subsequently “researching” them on Facebook for the rest of the day), buying all my dorm room essentials from Target, and getting ready to start my life as a first year in college. How could that possibly have been 3 years ago? I can’t even begin to visualize what my life will be like in 3 years time, let alone what I’ll be doing this same time next year.

Of course, I definitely have an idea of what I’d like to be doing this same time next year—how I go about achieving this goal, however, is the daunting, looming dark cloud hovering over the far-off land that I lovingly refer to as “my post-grad future.” I, like many other Scripps students, had the opportunity to study abroad the fall semester of my junior year, and I, like many other Scripps students, fell deeply and irreversibly in love with my study abroad experience—so much so that I want to return abroad as soon as possible. I was lucky enough to study in London, at Queen Mary University in London’s East End, and to say I simply ‘miss’ it would be the understatement of the century. My sharp cravings to go back to the East End are a daily—if not hourly—occurrence; ones that not even the best of my #tbt photos or nostalgic journal entries can easily assuage. I dream of nothing more than going back and walking alongside the canal, saying hello to the outrageously rude (but very pretty) swans that block the path, stocking up on the few items I can cook with using my very limited knowledge of the culinary arts at my local Sainsbury’s, and hopping on the tube and taking a stroll down to St. Paul’s Cathedral at dusk, taking hundreds of pictures of the 4 pm sunset and annoying my abroad friends by trying to get the shot just right. If you’ve ever met me in person, you will very likely already know all of this already—apparently I have a hard time keeping quiet about how much I loved being abroad in London, and how serious I am about returning ASAP.

With this in mind, I attended a CP&R Workshop called “Send Me Abroad (to work!)”—as part of the incredible “Life After Scripps” event series that is currently happening on campus—and boy am I glad I did. I learned so much about how to go about finding a job abroad, let alone finding one that will accept me, and how to begin the seemingly impossible task of securing not only a job across the pond, but also housing, the correct visas, travel plans, and a livable compensation for the work I will (hopefully!!!) be doing.

One of the key takeaways from this meeting was to be focused and goal oriented: it’s not easy to pack up shop and move across the world, but if the motivation and the desire are both there, it definitely won’t be as difficult. I now have a better idea of how I can visualize my goals of moving back to London and use that as the driving force to keep me on-task. I also learned in the workshop that breaking this whole process down into more doable, smaller steps is the key to keeping up the hunt for a job; but really, this advice can be applied to pretty much anything you do, especially something as intimidating and logistically-complicated as planning out your future goals and executing them. Additionally, I learned that one can never do too much networking. Seriously. Networking is the best thing you can ever do, and although it’s kind of formidable and sometimes feels weird, learning how to do this now will absolutely have you better prepared for life in general.

Does this mean I am completely at ease about my own future and the career path I want to pursue? Especially one outside of the United States? Absolutely not……..not even close. But, I am definitely starting to visualize how my overwhelming desire to move back to London and work there will benefit me in this endeavor down the line–like when I am inevitably faced with rejection, complication, and even some sheer bad luck. I know that this is not going to be easy, but I also know that if I’m willing to put the work in and maintain my focus, the payoff that will come with the perseverance necessary in pulling this off will make it all worth it–even if it doesn’t quite feel that way right now.