The seed was planted in 2006, a few years after I graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Film & Animation. The years following my graduation were tough… I went through periods of joblessness, depression, the realization that the passion for my chosen profession was gone, attempted moves to big cities that failed, and an eventual move back home. The entire experience was rough, but it shaped who I am today and helped to clear a path of focus for the future.
At the time, I thought I was a failure. But what I didn’t realize was that the moment was an opportunity… being broke, homeless, and jobless was actually freeing in some absurd way. I had the power to mold the future I wanted, with a little hard work and determination. Gradually, I shifted my efforts and plowed forward.
Today, I work full time for a multi-media agency in Albany, New York. I’ve worked hard to get here, and the work is never over. But for the moment, I can safely say I survived the post-college meltdown.
When I built College Aftermath, my number one goal was to provide a source of hope, inspiration, and legit, real-world, first-hand, tried-and-true advice. I wanted — and still do — to share my story — my triumphs and failures — in the hope that someone out there might hear what they need to hear in their moment of turmoil.
The world today is not kind to college graduates. Unfortunately, grads today are finding it tougher than ever to launch their careers, find a place to live, get health care, and feel settled enough to start contributing to the global marketplace. Through the internet, and sharing our experiences and learned wisdom, we can, at the very least, provide a system of much-needed support. Because ultimately, no matter how challenging life after college may be, you’ll get through it and most definitely be a much stronger person for the experience!
Raeanne Wright was the founder of College Aftermath and has been writing about surviving the post-college experience since graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Film and Animation. Now working successfully as a freelance web designer, she’s happy to report that the curveballs she was thrown during those first few years out of college made her stronger, smarter, and ultimately led to a much more fulfilling career path.