Many new graduates want to travel, some want to start a family, others have strictly financial goals, and others still may not know what they want out of life just yet.

Is getting a job and starting your career out of school something you want right off the bat, is it something you need? If you want to travel, are you choosing to do it now because you feel that you will soon have responsibilities piled up and this is the only time in the next thirty years you’ll be able to do it?

Is external pressure part of the equation? Are all of your friends traveling? Is your family on your case about ‘getting a real job’ because you have a degree? Do you feel like getting a great career to play ‘catch-up’ with your successful friends and classmates?

Ask yourself these questions, and don't lie about the answer, this way you can figure out where your motivation lies, and why. If you do this you’ll have a much better chance of making the right decision and choosing an appropriate path for your post-graduation life.

Do you have a friend or a classmate who graduated and seems to have the best job in the world, and all of their facebook photos are of them on awesome company retreats, or beside the fancy new car they bought? If this describes you, remember two things. The first is that no one’s life is exactly as it appears on facebook, and the second is that life is not a competition, it is about finding your path. And although this may seem very daunting when you consider how fast someone else’s life seems to be moving, and your friends and family are pressuring you to “do something with your life”, just remember, it’s a long race, and in the end you’re only racing against yourself.

Are you a new graduate that is having trouble finding work, or have work but are deeply unsatisfied with it? If so, there’s no need to panic, the somewhat comforting reality is that you’re not alone. Being in school is fun and inspirational for many students, however the mood can change once students become graduates, and must get out there and try and make a name for themselves. Many will discover that you can’t always land a dream job right out of school; that people usually have to plug away for a few years until they can truly find something worth sinking their teeth into.

The truth is, everybody’s circumstances, wants, needs and goals are different, and some people may have enough savings or support from a spouse or family member that finding a career relevant to their field right after graduation may not be a necessary thing to do, thus freeing their time for travel. Others however, will have student loans coming due, and a burning passion for their field of study. For these individuals, it may be a financial, psychological, emotional or intellectual need to pursue a career immediately upon graduation.

It’s important to remember that no two people’s lives are exactly the same, and so their goals, wants, needs, resources and ambitions will be hard to compare…so don’t get trapped  in that mindset, it can be very counter-productive.

Unfortunately there is no universal answer for what you should do with your life after graduation, other than pursuing a passion, and carefully balancing your wants and needs. The end goal should be a life with purpose, and with that goal in mind, take whatever path you can to get there.