Practicality vs emotion: VCU’s lack of grad prep

Jessica Holgado, Contributing Writer

As I approach graduation in December, I am finding it hard to put my emotions into words. Happy? Sad? Excited? Nervous? It is a mix of all of these feelings, but none of them seem to fully capture what I am truly experiencing. 

Graduation is supposed to be a celebratory moment, but it feels more like leaving behind something familiar and stepping into a future that is completely unknown. 

After four years of college, I expected to have a clearer idea of what comes next. Instead, I find myself with more questions than answers. The pressure to have it all figured out in a world full of high expectations is overwhelming.  

While I am proud of what I have accomplished, I still cannot shake the feeling that I am an imposter — that I have somehow made it this far, but am not really ready for what comes next. There is excitement about the future, though it is mixed with a nagging doubt that makes me second-guess everything I have done and everything I am about to do. 

As I try to make sense of it all, I cannot help but wonder: How is everyone else handling this? It is hard to tell if I am the only one feeling this way, or if everyone else is just better at hiding it. 

The truth is, feelings of doubt and uncertainty are more common than we realize. One of the biggest challenges many recent graduates face is imposter syndrome — a constant fear that, despite all your hard work and accomplishments, you do not actually deserve to be where you are, or that you are somehow “faking it.”  

It is completely normal to question your abilities, wonder if you have made the right choices or feel like you are waiting for someone to give you the answers. These feelings are not only common, but largely unfounded. 

College is supposed to be the foundation for our future — a stepping stone into adulthood and a successful career. But when it comes to preparing students for the emotional and psychological challenges that come after graduation, universities often fall short. 

At VCU, we were given the tools to succeed academically, but how well were we prepared for the overwhelming anxiety of making real-world decisions with no safety net?  

In my experience, VCU prepared me well for the practical side of things — how to network, how to think critically and how to excel in the classroom — but it did not teach me how to handle the emotional weight of the real world.  

One of the most impactful parts of my college experience was meeting people, connecting with professors and building relationships. 

I was not prepared for the loneliness of trying to carve out a career in a job market that feels like a black hole. I certainly was not ready for the isolation that comes with being surrounded by older, more experienced professionals constantly questioning whether I belong in the same space. 

College gave me the tools for success, but not the strategies to handle those uncertain moments that come when you are on your own and navigating the unknown. 

This is why so many recent graduates experience imposter syndrome. We are expected to go from students to professionals immediately, without enough support for such a mental and emotional adjustment. 

Then there is the issue of expectations. We are told graduation is the gateway to our dreams — whether it is landing the perfect job, getting into a top graduate school program or building the life we have always imagined. 

But life after college is far messier and more complicated than we are led to believe. No one prepares you for the disconnect between your idealized future and the everyday struggles of paying bills, endlessly applying for jobs and dealing with rejection after rejection. 

I am not saying VCU could have solved this problem in just one semester, but they could have done more to help us cope with the inevitable letdown after graduation. 

Yes, the career fairs, resume workshops and mock interviews were helpful, but the question remains: Did anyone really sit us down and say, “You might not get hired right away. You might not have everything figured out by 25, and that is okay?” 

We were taught technical skills and academics, but the emotional and psychological challenges of transitioning into adulthood were never properly addressed. 

That is where imposter syndrome comes in. It does not go away once you get your first job or paycheck, or even after a few years of experience. Instead, it sticks around, like a constant reminder that you might not belong. It can feel like trying to balance between proving yourself and worrying you are not up for the challenges ahead. 

So, what could VCU do better to prepare students for life after graduation? VCU could place a greater emphasis on mental health and career readiness, not just in terms of landing a job, but in building resilience for the journey ahead. 

Career counseling should do more than just help with resumes and mock interviews. It should also support students in dealing with the emotional challenges of job hunting — like rejection, self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy — that are a natural part of the process. 

Another area for improvement is changing the idea that graduation is the “finish line” to recognizing that life is an ongoing journey. Life after graduation is full of uncertainty, and colleges could do more to help students embrace that and cope with the unexpected.  

VCU should make it clear that feeling lost or uncertain after graduation is normal, not a sign of failure. We do not need to have everything figured out right away. More focus on long-term career development, mentorship and emotional support would help students transition from the classroom to the real world.  

The good news is that imposter syndrome is not a permanent condition. In time, you begin to see that no one really has it all figured out. 

Despite how overwhelming things may feel right now, the truth is that everyone is figuring it out as they go. Life after college is not about immediate success; it is about learning how to navigate the uncertainty and build the resilience to keep moving forward, even when it feels like you are failing.