{"id":2397,"date":"2023-04-27T12:55:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-27T12:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/anitasanz.com\/?p=2397"},"modified":"2024-09-02T23:44:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T23:44:40","slug":"graduation-dance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/anitasanz.com\/wp-dev\/graduation-dance\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduation Dance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Graduating from a school, college, or program is supposed to be one of those \u201chappy\u201d events we celebrate, falling in the same category of major life transitions as weddings and births. You are moving from one place to another, from one status to another, from one degree to another. And that\u2019s a good thing, and can be a very happy event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ch..ch..ch..ch..changes!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

But transitions are stressful because by definition they imply major life change. And major life changes require major adjustments, which is where the stress comes from. If you\u2019re leaving middle school for high school, high school for college or work, college for graduate school, or looking for work\u2026you are moving into uncharted territory.  Uncharted, at least, for you. It wouldn\u2019t be abnormal at all if you had a strong desire to stay right where you are forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the Trail<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s one very important thing for you to remember: this is actually not uncharted territory!  Others have gone before you and not only survived but left the proverbial trail of bread crumbs for you to follow. You do not have to figure out how to do well in high school, college, medical school, graduate school, or \u201cthe real world\u201d all by yourself. There are books, websites, blogs, and forums to help you to learn about and excel in any new arena you enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you have to do is seek them out. And a secret: Most people who have made it to the next step are really happy to help you get there, too. Just ask!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forge Your Own Path<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

In addition to making use of all of the accumulated wisdom of people who have gone through these transitions before you, it\u2019s important that you forge your own path. So maybe you don\u2019t have to reinvent the wheel, but maybe you can invent a more efficient one or a more beautiful one. That\u2019s going to be your contribution to the world and it\u2019s very, very important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust your gut, follow your instincts, and don\u2019t be afraid to veer away from the pack when you have an idea you feel you must see through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s All Yours, Kid!<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Let yourself feel all the happiness of having made it through, all the joy and pride of achievement that goes with graduation, and being able to define yourself as having completed something important. Let yourself also feel the sadness of endings, the uncertainty of new beginnings, and the excitement about what lies ahead that you cannot predict. It\u2019s all yours, kid!  You\u2019ve earned it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dr<\/em>.\u00a0Anita Sanz<\/em>, PhD, Psychologist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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