Girl: “Is everything alright?”
Kris: “Sure, why?”
Girl: “You seem troubled. Can I help anyhow?”
Kris: “You see… How can I say it…? I don’t really know what I can do after graduation... I feel confused.”
Girl: “Now I get it. Don’t worry. Even after graduation you’ve got plenty of opportunities and choices. Listen.”

Well, you obtained a diploma with honours, so you’ve got great potential, brother! Why don’t you consider continuing your educational path?

This is great if your career requires getting specialisation. You can attend specialised programs that will prepare you with technical proficiency for the area of art that you prefer. This way you will be better prepared for the job when you apply.

If you’re more interested in gaining knowledge, you could consider graduate school. That’s right! You can do it after your graduation.

Post‑graduate qualifications make you a more desired candidate to work with, as you become an expert that specialises in a particular field. 

Or… as a student with a diploma with honours, you might become an assistant at the university.

Many universities hire their best recent graduates and let them work with academic teachers. Their tasks differ depending on the departments. Sometimes they are asked to cover a professor’s lectures, write reports, or make appointments with petitioners.

Another idea is to take a gap year! You have always wanted to travel to Lisbon!

After so many years of dedicated study, you deserve to rest and recharge your batteries. Besides, you will gain new experiences, learn a basic language enough to communicate with the locals, and immerse yourself into a distinct culture. This way you will also improve your communication skills.

If not a gap year, how about finding volunteering opportunities? No matter if you study, work, or enjoy a gap year, I think you should try it! There is a wide range of volunteer options.

You might help at the animal shelter, help children with doing homework at the local community centre, or support charity organisations of your interest. Being a volunteer always involves engagement, private time, and passion. It allows you to gain experience and self‑commitment with no money in return. Moreover, you learn time and task management. And these skills make you a very valuable employee.

You know Kris, there is another choice. You can take advantage of the fact that you wish to travel and match it with your knowledge of the language. You are a great speaker of Spanish, so why not go to Spain and teach English as a second language to both children and adults?

You could visit a foreign country and make a living this way for some time. Schools which search for English teachers sometimes provide them with accommodation. Think about it. 

Actually, you might start working on a daily basis here in town. If you need to earn some money, you can get a job in a store or a local cafe.

You will need to stick to some rules and regulations, and organise a new schedule. But if you want to develop your interests, you can look for a job that involves exploring your passion. Many young people decide to earn money to financially sustain themselves and see how it is to be fully independent. What do you think?

Well… it seems that the longer I talk, the more ideas I get. Kris, you are a person of many talents. You are good at painting and drawing. 

You can get a certificate that will allow you to teach others how to do it. Or imagine selling the portraits, landscapes, and sketches that people will order from you online. People love art and they long for arts and crafts. And you will make your passion a way of earning money!

Kris: You know what? I didn’t realise there were so many possibilities! Thank you so much! Now I need to think carefully about what I really want to do!