Class of 2021 just convocated and my social media was flooded with all the wonderful people celebrating this milestone with their loved ones. My convocation was 2 years ago, and I was part of the second-last batch that could attend an official ceremony in the pre-Covid world.
In today’s post, I want to talk about a few things that I think are important for new graduates to know.
1. Take a good break:
It does not matter how long, easy, or hard the academic years were for you, you deserve a break to celebrate the milestone you just reached. Taking some time out to reflect on the journey will not only be emotionally fulfilling but will also motivate you for the next chapter – whatever that may be. You can get yourself a graduation present or start saving up for a trip that you can go to once the world gets better. But please make sure you do something for yourself that makes you happy.
2. Get your documents of legal status:
This is specific to international students. Check the expiry date of your passport and study permit. Get help from the international student services office in your institution to apply for a work permit if you are planning to work. Get an extension of your study permit if you are going back to school. If you are planning to visit your home country, check if you have a valid visa that would allow you to return to Canada. Even though these tasks sound unattractive, they can be very crucial for this new chapter of your life that you just stepped into. And if there are any further issues, consult an immigration lawyer that can assist you with the procedures.
3. Prepare for life as a "non-student" :
Once you graduate, especially as an international student, there are a lot of facilities and services you will no longer have access to since you are out of school. An important example of that is health insurance. Please look into the procedure and requirements of getting provincial health insurance ASAP because healthcare can be very expensive otherwise.
Also, investigate the banking fees that will be charged once you stop being a student. There are a lot of banks that provide free chequing or saving accounts so this might be a good time to switch banks.
If you are a domestic student, make sure you are fully aware of the amount of your student loan and when it will start collecting interest. This way you can come up with a plan to slowly start paying it back.
After you finish your studies, you are expected to figure out what you want to do next - it could be a job, another degree or certification, taking a gap year, etc. Please know that you don't have to have all the answers right away. Have faith and patience, try to stay healthy, and take it one small step at a time.
