Stuck in fresh grad limbo

It feels weird being a jobseeker with a degree in sociology. Sociology fuels your ideals; you develop a desire to live in a world where people thrive regardless of their differences.

However, life post-college has been—and is still—less than ideal. This daunting welcome to the “real world” has made me question myself. Am I really living by the ideals I gained in my education, or am I slowly being swallowed by the expectations of adulting?

In sociology, discussions about capitalism are pivotal in trying to make sense of our realities. As I studied, I’ve gained a strong ambivalence toward it, especially living in a world where capital and money are central to our existence. It is bleak yet this is where we are, and this is the irony I immediately faced: I have no choice but to work around capitalism. It hits hard when you face it outside the classroom.

I always get frustrated when I try to find jobs related to my degree, only to be surprised by a wage so low, that it cannot possibly cover even my basic needs. I cannot help but feel frustrated with the idea of working with a salary that limits your life to mere survival.

I know this struggle is not mine alone, but a shared experience in this world where having money is a virtue to be followed yet is hard to achieve.

As such, I find it ironic that despite the vastness of sociology as a degree—it tackles different facets of human society—it is given little importance. Challenges in wages are one, but the challenge of finding a job with this degree is another.

It has been a dejecting journey so far to find a job as a sociology graduate. Searching on LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job-searching sites has merited little to no results.

I often ask myself if I should go and try my luck in non-government organizations whose goals align with mine. It is my dream to serve people in one way or another, after all. But wages can be low, and despite my wants, it would be wiser to join the cause much later when I have a better financial capacity.

All these experiences have made me rethink my purpose and desires for the future. I value my ideals. I value the education I received. There are so many merits that the program has, yet despite its charm and importance, reality bends my idealism as a 23-year-old fresh graduate navigating a world full of uncertainties and ironies. I’m stuck in limbo as I try to negotiate my dreams alongside my context, and right now, I have been second-guessing my career and life.

I am aware that the flame burning inside me has been slowly dimming. However, I hope that in years to come, I will be equipped with the wisdom to negate the worries I have been carrying. I hope to proudly share my appreciation for my degree without wallowing in the what-ifs and its concerns for practicality.

I hope I can step out of the limbo without regretting my decisions because, after all, sociology has greatly shaped who I am today. In the future, despite my current musings, I hope the ideals I’ve gained from the past four years continuously guide me as I find my path.