I thought graduating would solve all my problems.
After four years of late-night essays, early morning classes, and part-time jobs, I believed the hard part was behind me. I was always on the go, too busy to slow down or think deeply about the future. Each day brought new challenges, and while my schedule was fairly consistent, the little changes kept me on my toes and pushed moments of reflection aside. In some ways, I liked it that way — I’m not a fan of sitting in silence. I figured that once life slowed down, I could finally build a healthier, more balanced routine.
Now that I’ve graduated, things have slowed down. While that might seem like a relief, it’s actually created more space for silence — and with it, more room for overthinking. I’ve always been naturally anxious, and now my mind is still racing a thousand miles an hour, even though my schedule no longer matches its pace. I’m searching for work in a job market that feels especially harsh and unwelcoming to graduates with little experience. Since January, I’ve applied to over 150 positions, received around 15 rejection emails, landed two phone interviews, and had one in-person interview that led nowhere.
Back in school, I could count on quick validation — from grades, job performance, or encouragement from peers. Now, without classes or a job, that same validation is gone. I’ve long struggled with tying my self-worth to external success, and lately, it’s become harder to find ways to stay busy in a hometown that no longer feels like mine. I feel isolated at a time when everything is uncertain, and I know I’m not alone; I’ve heard similar struggles from other graduates who didn’t have plans lined up after graduation.
It’s easy to slip into self-criticism when the job market seems to deem you unqualified, often not even bothering with a follow-up email. But our worth isn’t based on our careers, finances, or academic achievements. Scripture offers a different lens:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love” – Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
The language in these passages is powerful: we are created, knit together, made, chosen, and included. Maybe worth isn’t about the self at all. I beat myself up for not landing that perfect entry-level digital marketing role, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am loved and created in His image.
Lately, I’ve been reading through the major prophets and just finished Ezekiel. Much of it is heavy, filled with the Lord’s judgments and vivid descriptions of how He will punish Israel for their unfaithfulness. But if you keep reading, you also see His promise to judge the nations that wronged Israel and eventually restore His people to their land, blessing them like never before. Even though they sinned and faced consequences, God still offered hope and a future to the next generation.
I’m not facing exile (and thankfully haven’t spent time worshipping idols either), but the point remains: even when my circumstances stir up anxiety and distort my sense of worth, I can rest in knowing I am made in His image — chosen and included in His plan for a greater tomorrow. My hope is that other graduates might find comfort in this same truth, no matter what they’re facing right now.
