Will We Greeks Have Post Graduation Depression?

James · #1 01-26-2003, 03:35 PM

College is some of the busiest times of our lives. And aren't Greeks busiser than most?

Even if you don't work during school, you are active in campus activities, sometimes several.

It just seems like there is always something to do!

Someone to see. Someone to talk to. Something that will need to be done.

You walk into the beginning of the semester and you know you will be bouncing from thing to thing until Finals . . . only to rest to the next one starts.

Look at our RUSH threads. Its like hurry up and wait all the time. And just when the threads die down they start up again.

What will become of us super students, the ones that go to school full-time, work, hold office in student government and a fraternity or sorority?

What will become of all us super achievers when we lay down all our honors, attention, obligations, acclamations.

Won't we be bored? Maybe a little stressed and anxious? Depressed?

How many occupations out there give us the sheer volume of activity and access to people that a college campus does?

If you know some please tell us, because otherwise, damn, I think we should all just keep registering for classes.

Pre-Grads and post grads please share your thoughts!?

Sorry if this should be in chit chat . . .

ZTAngel · #2 01-26-2003, 03:55 PM

As much as I don't want to graduate and have to face "the real world", I'm also really excited. Right now, I wish I could create a clone of myself so I can get everything done. One to go to all the meetings for my campus activites, one to hang out with my sorority, one to do all my academics, one to go to work, and one to hand out resumes so I can find a post-graduate job. Over winter break, all I did was just worked. I had no school or clubs and organizations to take up my time. It was relaxing. I would come home from work and just veg in front of the TV. A part of me never wants to leave college but another part of me just wants to be able to sit down and relax!

KSigkid · #3 01-26-2003, 05:26 PM

Well, I've had an experience in college where I've had to support myself a bunch (regarding school stuff, extracurricular stuff, etc.), so as far as the responsibility, it won't be a huge jump for me...I'd like to be completely on my own, without my parents help, and I think that the stuff I've had to do the past four years will help me with that.

I will miss the college atmosphere though...one of my best friends is a recent grad, and he has constantly reminded me that it's never the same when you leave..it'll still be fun, but not the same fun.

SigkapAlumWSU · #4 01-26-2003, 05:36 PM

When I took two years off of college, I tried to fill it with work and activities and friends, like I had in college, but somehow, it wasn't the same. Now that I'm back in College, the sheer volume of things that I do from day to day can be overwhelming again, but at the same time, I missed it so much when I was gone. When I graduate, I'm going to try to keep that same level of activity because I've found that personally, I thrive on it.

AZDZetaSigma03 · #5 01-26-2003, 09:10 PM

I will be sad, because I'm going to miss my sisters.

LeslieAGD · #6 01-26-2003, 10:00 PM

Right now I am student teaching and I am definitely feeling bored and lonely. Mostly when I come home, I just want to veg out. I miss everyone back at school and the few friends that I have at home all have their own stuff going on (college, work, one even has a kid). Also, it'd be really nice to meet a guy but a) I'm too tired/lazy to look and b) even if I did go out, it's not like I'd know where to look. So, it kinda sucks all around.

sororitygirl2 · #7 01-26-2003, 11:06 PM

I will tell you right now, YES you will have post-graduation depression.

You will feel lonely and lost, and flat-out bored... b/c EVERYTHING changes and everyone spreads out (unless you all stay in your college town and take slacker jobs and party for a few years).

But, after awhile, you get used to your new life. You visit your friends across the country (which is cool). You make new friends. You discover new bars. You have more money to spend.

And you can hang on to the hope that, one day, you'll get a job you really like.

I don't know... maybe that's just my situation.

If you want a job that gives you excitement and helps you meet people/keep busy, sales/marketing/PR seem to be good ways to go. As for keeping busy and having fun, you just have to go out... LOTS! And get a second job just for fun or take up a hobby so that you can meet more people and keep busy.

archangel689 · #8 01-26-2003, 11:53 PM

yep this is my worry above all worries. But as a founder of my chapter, I doubt I'll have any problems with sticking around in an advisory role.

Quote:

Originally posted by sororitygirl2
I will tell you right now, YES you will have post-graduation depression.

You will feel lonely and lost, and flat-out bored... b/c EVERYTHING changes and everyone spreads out (unless you all stay in your college town and take slacker jobs and party for a few years).

But, after awhile, you get used to your new life. You visit your friends across the country (which is cool). You make new friends. You discover new bars. You have more money to spend.

And you can hang on to the hope that, one day, you'll get a job you really like.

I don't know... maybe that's just my situation.

If you want a job that gives you excitement and helps you meet people/keep busy, sales/marketing/PR seem to be good ways to go. As for keeping busy and having fun, you just have to go out... LOTS! And get a second job just for fun or take up a hobby so that you can meet more people and keep busy.

MooseGirl · #9 01-27-2003, 12:56 AM

Well, i wouldn't say i suffered from post-grad depression, but i do suffer from boredom.
I grad. in 2001, i went back to school for a 2nd degree that fall but dropped out....I've remained as active as possible but I now live 15hrs(train) from home and my chapter. I am part of my chapter's advisory board(email!)...Hopefully next year I'll move back closer...
But back to the boredom....eg. today, sunday, meeting days...if i was back home i'd go to chapter meeting (even tho i'm alum)...but since i'm not there, i sat around on my butt all day..

The boredom is only greatened by the fact that i work only part time, and i live in a small French speaking town in which i know noone....

so, if your a friendly outgoing kind of person, i'm sure you'll have no probs filling the void.....staying as involved as possible with your GLO will def help stave off depression and/or boredom....

Dionysus · #10 01-27-2003, 01:02 AM

I don't see why you still can't hang out with our brother/sisters on your free time,

Unless, of course, you attended college out of town.

Betarulz! · #11 01-27-2003, 01:46 AM

This is something that I never thought of...and it makes me kinda worry

Hopefully I'll be going to med school after graduation, so I may stave this off...after med school will come the interning and such which will definately keep me busy.

I guess by that point I'll be so far removed from it all that I won't notice it, but I do know that I have considered how much I will miss my bros and all the friends I've made here. I know that this year I will be sad when the seniors in our house graduate b/c I've actually become good friends with a bunch of them and it will be weird not having them around (our pledge classes are pretty well linked as they were the ones who were really in charge of rushing us and we exhibit the similar traits of excellence that they have - we've since accomplished more, but those guys are awesome)

AngelPhiSig · #12 01-27-2003, 06:28 AM

I have "Im an alumna" depression...

Poopy sorority wanting stupid money that I dont have... grrr... if sororities were free, yea, that would rock. It would also give all women a chance to join!

Hmmm... idea!

#13 01-27-2003, 12:02 PM

Having been out of school (for all intents and purposes) for about a year and a half now, I can agree that it's a major change.

Life seems a lot quieter... you miss all the fun things you did in college, and yet you start to wonder how you had all that energy to get all those things done. When you get together with your friends that are still in school, you become the old lady who can't stay up until 4 and party like a rock star anymore because you have to be in to work at 7:30, and that's not quite the same as having to be in class at 7:30

Then again, actually having money is nice

Munchkin03 · #14 01-27-2003, 12:11 PM

With any luck, I'll be headed to grad school in the fall, and architecture programs are especially intense.

So, I don't think I'll be bored too too much. Plus, most people from my school end up in NYC or Boston, which are my top two choices for grad school. I can't wait until I will just have work...not classes/sorority/Panhel/grad school and job applications/job/social life to juggle. I figure if I'm really really nostalgic for Greek life, I can be a chapter advisor (all of my grad school choices have chapters of my sorority! woo hoo!).

I don't know if Greeks are "busier than most". Maybe it depends on your school. Of my friends, the busiest ones are the ones who aren't Greek, because most of my sisters don't have to have on-campus jobs, and the sorority is their only extracurricular activity. Meanwhile, I have independent friends who have two jobs, are taking a full load of classes, and are heavily involved in student government.

I've had this overwhelming desire to "party like a rock star" lately, and that's basically my top priority this semester. I'm finished with my majors, and am just writing a thesis and taking classes to ensure that I graduate.

Sistermadly · #15 01-27-2003, 12:15 PM

Since I wasn't greek in college, I can't say whether I suffered post-grad depression related to that but I held office in about three different student activities. Once I graduated, I did feel a little... aimless.. for awhile. I took some post-baccalaureate classes so that I could bring up my GPA before graduate school, but even if you're in undergraduate classes after you graduate, that mental division between you and the other undergrads is very real. You feel it, they feel it, and no one really knows how to get across it (unless you were really good friends before hand).

I think it's understandable to feel that way, because a major chapter of your life is closing, and of course, you're mourning the self you used to be, and are unsure of the self you're becoming. Stay involved with your fraternity as an alum, keep in touch with old university friends as much as possible, and maybe, join the alum association for your college or university. But even more so, accept the changes that are happening with open arms and look at it as another exciting phase of your life starting. Having a positive attitude about it works wonders.

(Of course, I'm having the most extended adolescence possible, since I've been at university for a total of 8 years -- if you include graduate school)