12 Q Tell me a little bit about your journey after college. Wynne: Lucky enough for me, I did not have to move after I graduated. I stayed in Stillwater to accept a graduate assistant position in the athletic department at OSU doing fundraising and student-athlete development. Stark: After undergrad, I got a job at a string of medical clinics doing PR, but quickly left that job after 6-8 months then I started grad school at the University of Iowa. I almost feel like it’s a right of passage to quit your first job after college - only the lucky ones stay if they find one they really enjoy. In grad school, got an internship at an agency called “Idea Grove“ doing PR and marketing, and I loved it. I worked there for a little over a year, then started with them full time after I graduated, but got laid off in August of 2023. From there, I went to a job at an agency in Dallas, where I quickly discovered that I didn’t like PR and Marketing – which is so scary because that’s what I went to school thinking I was going to do. However, I recently switched to an internal position this past month, and it is going so much better. Nelson: After graduating, I packed my bags and moved to New York City. I had always dreamedof living there and pushing myself hard to achieve that goal. I did not know anyone there but I was just excited to be living my dream. I took a sales job trying something new after I was thinking I would pursue something in social media. The job was not what I expected but such a great learning experience. Were there any hardest moments or adjustments you felt post grad? How did you navigate those? Wynne: Uniquely for me, I did not have a difficult time adjusting. The work I do now, I was already doing prior to graduation for the department, so the transition was seamless. It also made it easier that I stayed in the same environment, working with all the staff members who supported me through my student-athlete career. Stark: Absolutely, they don’t prepare you for how depressing it can be when you graduate, because you go from being around people who are all your age and in the same stage of life to going to a place where everyone is older than you or almost your age but not in the same place. That was a hard adjustment and in college, you have a sense of freedom where you feel like it’s not real life just yet, so figuring out that real life happens. Also, being laid off at 24. You just dont think that’s something that’s going to happen after going to school, working hard, and getting more than one degree. All that paired with the fact that what I was doing wasn’t making me happy was really hard. Nelson: No one talks about post grad. No one really tells you what it’s like when you are thrown into the real world and feel isolated and alone in your struggles. I felt like I couldn’t balance my happiness and work took up all my energy and drained me of my passions. After taking the sales job I quickly realized it was not for me and I was frozen in my own fear of failure. I did not want to talk to anyone about my feelings because of embarrassment or thinking I made a mistake. After I quit the job and decided to get a job in social media, I started to realize it’s okay to change your mind. I was so afraid of being judged for leaving my first job and moving onto something else. However, your 20’s are all about learning. Taking that job is probably going to be one of my favorite and best memories I’ll have. I got to experience my dream job in fashion and social media which I would not have been able to do if I didn’t take a leap of faith. After understanding that everyone struggles with this, I had to understand that life is all about the way you react to situations. I had to also realize making mistakes was okay and moving forward is the best way to not hold onto the past. Upon graduation, how did you navigate the process of transition to a complete independence (finance, household, etc.)? Any tips on how to ease the transition? Wynne: I started paying for my own bills my “redshirt” junior year of college (when I first moved to Oklahoma State). I transferred from my old in-
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