If you didn’t go to any of the events put on by Career Planning & Resources during Life After Scripps, you really missed out. Not only did I gain a lot of valuable information about careers and how to pursue the one you want, but I also got a free froyo and got to make a pretty collage. While I may have been one of the only a few first years at many of the sessions, I fit in amongst the eager students learning how to act in an interview and catch the attention of big businesses.

So, if you were unable to make it to one of these events, don’t worry. There are many more throughout the year put on by the wonderful CP&R that you can partake in. The froyo might not be included in the deal, however.

Although I enjoyed and benefited from all of the sessions that I attended, my favorite was by far “Create Your Gap Year.” I felt a little bit hypocritical while there because I just spent so long planning for college itself and deciding where to spend the next four years of my life, and now I’m planning what to do when that is over. I moved on pretty quickly.

Not actually, though. I’ve always had a dream to travel abroad after I graduate from college, and so I though that starting to think about a plan for a gap year would be a great idea. It makes me happy, as well, to think about all of the cool things that I can do and as some of the other girls at the session said, discover some things about yourself that you couldn’t and didn’t have time to at Scripps.

During the session, we were able to go through stacks of magazines and create collages to map out our gap year. Mine was pretty broad and mainly included things that I like and enjoy doing, and the vague ideas I have for what I want to do after my life at Scripps. It pretty much reflects the very few concrete ideas I have, and more just shows my excitement and optimism towards the idea of a gap year since the paper has a lot of bring and pretty colors.

Making my collage made me realize that there are plenty of opportunities to do the things that you want to do after college, and that you can always change your path. It’s possible to stop doing something if it’s not what you like, and many times it is even worth it to change. As some of the big wigs at one of the career panels said, a job is a significant part of your life and thus you should enjoy what you do. Know what you’re getting into before you do it, but also be willing to change it if it’s not working out well. If traveling is what it takes for you to figure out what you want to do, go for it. And that’s just what I might end up doing at this point, since I have no idea otherwise!