By: Zi Yuan Wong
May 12, 2025
Graduation is a milestone where students celebrate the culmination of their academic journey, taking their well-earned walk across the stage to receive their degree. Surrounded by proud family and friends, they mark the transition from one chapter to the next, stepping into the professional world with new opportunities ahead.
Standing on stage in my robe and tasseled cap, diploma in hand, I felt an overwhelming sense of joy—my hard work had finally paid off. As I looked ahead, countless paths seemed to unfold before me, each leading to new possibilities. It was as if I had spread my wings, ready to soar toward something greater. The world is mine to explore, filled with endless opportunities waiting just beyond the horizon.
Graduating brings a mix of emotions, as leaving college means stepping back into full adult responsibilities. Despite years of preparation, the challenges of adulthood—filing taxes, paying bills, job hunting, and building a stable life—feel far more daunting than coursework and campus life ever did.
Are adult responsibilities hard because I lack experience, or are they designed to be? I no longer know. As reality twists around me, the dread of handling them makes me miss the structured world of my master’s studies.
As a 27-year-old graduate, my aspirations feel more measured than celebratory. While achievement is meant to bring joy, my outlook is shaped by experience, making this milestone feel less like an ending and more like a new set of challenges.
Before my studies, I believed that following the straight-and-narrow path would ensure a stable future and a fulfilling life.
The world feels far more chaotic and unpredictable, with economic instability and a volatile job market threatening livelihoods in an instant. Despite my qualifications, the uncertainty makes me question what’s truly worth pursuing. As the excitement of graduation fades, I sit in my bedroom, overwhelmed by a sinking feeling—Now what? In my final days in America, my mind raced with endless questions about the future.
“What’s next for me? Will I be okay? Am I truly ready for this opportunity?” These questions may not serve my self-worth in the long run, but I am determined to find their answers as I begin this new chapter back home. My journey forward marks the start of something unknown—whether it leads to fields of roses or landmines remains to be seen.
To my fellow graduates: Happy graduation, and best of luck to you all.