First of all, congrats on graduating champ! Whether you are graduating after five or more years, after four years or early like me, you deserve a pat on the back.
I’m graduating from University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s in political science and minor in feminist studies at 19 years old as a traditional student who completed a four-year degree in just two. It feels surreal to be graduating this early. I am filled with both an overwhelming sense of achievement and uncertainty about what comes next.
For me the choice to accelerate my education wasn’t just ambition — it was rooted in love and urgency. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at the start of last year and while she is now in remission (something I am so eternally grateful for). I wanted to make absolutely sure she would see me graduate and walk across the stage.
As a first generation student, this achievement isn’t just mine, it belongs to my whole family. My grandparents who are 94 and 86 have been a large part of my life and I want to make sure they can witness this moment too.
I also have a vision for my future. I am determined to become a constitutional lawyer and one day, a judge. Graduating early puts me closer to that goal. The legal path is long and demanding, and every step forward now means helping more people sooner. Then of course there is the practical reason why I am graduating early: undergrad is expensive, and law school even more so. Two fewer years of tuition is a huge financial relief.
So whether you’ve graduated early by one quarter or two full years, know this: it’s not just impressive — it’s empowering. Now let’s talk about how to make the most of it.
What you can do after graduating early:
- Take time to rest
Let’s be real: speed running your degree can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health. Rest is not laziness — it is healing. Give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing for a bit.
Catch up on sleep. Watch movies. Go on long walks. Revisit your hobbies. I can’t wait to pick up crocheting and start reading books for fun again. This is the time to reintroduce joy in small ways, one quiet moment at a time.
- Reflect and realign with a vision board
You’ve been moving fast, so now is the moment to slow down and reflect and reconnect with your why. Start by writing down your core values and long term goals. Try to discover what truly matters to you, and the life you want to build personally, professionally and emotionally.
Once you have jotted those down, make it visual. Creating a vision board is a fun and powerful way to clarify your direction and you can make it via paper or digitally.
This isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about reminding yourself, daily, of what you’re working toward. Whether your board includes courthouse steps, community service or cozy solo trips, let it reflect the life you’re envisioning. Don’t worry if that vision changes over time — what matters is that it’s yours.
- Start planning!
Use this time to design your next chapter. Think of this more as short term goals. For me, I’m treating the next year as a gap year studying for the LSAT, applying to law schools and finding internships that will give me a deeper understanding of legal work.
Even if you’re not sure what comes next when thinking of your short term goals, remember nothing is set in stone and that is okay! Ask yourself:
- What do I want to learn?
- What do I want to try?
- Where do I want to grow?
- Celebrate
You’ve earned it. So own it. Whether you throw a big party, go on a trip or have a relaxed backyard barbeque with your closest people, mark this moment with intention. Celebration is about joy, not scale. So do whatever feels right for you.
Some fun ideas you can do are plan a solo staycation or spa day, do something adventurous like an escape room or host a potluck dinner (and of course invite everyone who supported you).
- Explore your career options
You have extra time now, so use this period to explore what your passion is. You are just like Barbie. You are out in the real world now and you can be anything you want to be!
Tips for how to do so include:
- Look for internships: Hands-on experience in law, politics, journalism, nonprofit work or whatever your field may be helps you understand real-world dynamics. Try sites like Handshake, or LinkedIn to search for opportunities.
- Shadow professionals: Email professionals you admire and ask to shadow them for a day or week. Observing someone in the role you aspire to be in can be incredibly illuminating.
- Part-time or freelance work: Look into gigs or part-time roles that help build transferable skills, like writing, research, customer service or administrative support.
- Volunteering: Look for opportunities that let you serve communities and test your passion. This can be done with non-profit organizations or other groups.
Each of these options can give you a deeper understanding of what fits you and what doesn’t before fully committing to a path.
Graduating early is a rare and beautiful achievement; it’s not a sign to rush forward, but an invitation to breathe, reflect and reimagine. This isn’t a race. You don’t have to leap into the next thing just because society expects it.
This time is yours. For growth. For curiosity. For rest. For figuring out who you are when you’re not buried in assignments. For anything you want it to be.
Your path doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s to be valid. You’re not behind, and you’re not ahead compared to anyone else; you are exactly where you’re supposed to be. Let this time be meaningful because it is different. And remember: success isn’t one thing. It’s everything you make it.
Congratulations to the class of 2025!
