I’m officially in the “post college” stage of life. I say officially, because it’s finally sunk in. I am a graduate-holding, full-time-working, adult-like-person. (I can’t say adult…. because, let’s be real. I had cookies for lunch today. Oops.)

I think what finally made me realize “Hey! You’re out of college. This is real life” was experiencing the reunions with college friends you hear so much about. Everyone over 30 who met their life long besties in college always talk about their rare reunions, weekend getaways, and picking up right where you left off. In the past few days I was lucky enough to experience two of these reunions. Even though I’ve been out o

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 12.27.33 PM

f college for barely 10 months, they were just as magical as promised. The 5 girls who I spent every Tuesday night of college with (okay… except junior year when everyone but me and Rachel left at some point. Stupid study abroad.) have been separated these long 10 months. Saturday 4 of us were brought together at O’s bridal shower! Tuesday I surprised R when our favorite flight attendant made a guest appearance in San Diego. Both of these events were the best, to put it mildly. So much joy. So much laughter. I can’t wait until B’s wedding when all 5 of us will finally be joined in a massive group hug! They make me so grateful for friendships that go the distance, friendships that will last a lifetime.

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 12.27.52 PMReunions with college friends are something I’ve heard a lot about…. so is the Post College Slump. Also known as the Post College Blues, Post College Depression, and The Worst Years of Your Life. Apparently you walk across a stage, get a piece of paper in exchange for 4 years of hard work, and your life just falls apart. I’m not trying to be dramatic, this is what kind, considerate, caring people have warned me about. One of my pastors recently was so nice as to share “life after college doesn’t really get better until you get married”.

Since THAT isn’t happening anytime soon, and I’ve never been… how does my mother so kindly put it? normal, I’ve made up my mind that my post college slump will be a tad bit unusual. Because who decided for me that these years have to be tough? If I learned anything in college, it’s that you can’t change your circumstances, but you can change your decisions…. also that toaster waffles are a legitimate meal. My goal is to have an atypical, post college slump uper awesome time! So, my Post College Blues?


Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 11.52.59 AMThe Blue Water of Lake Malawi

I know, I know. Not many people get to spend the first six months of their post college life in the middle of Africa. And, sadly, I don’t get to spend any more of my post college years there. While Lake Malawi is beautiful and serene, it’s blue waters remind me of adventure: swimming out to this floating dock with new friends, cliff jumping, Malawian canoeing (SO much harder than it looks…). I plan on my next few years including more crazy adventures like this wonderful weekend spent in Nkhata Bay.

IMG_6233Nautical Blue

There is literally something in every room of our house in this color. That’s because I fell in love with this can of spray paint and have now gone through 3 bottles (not exaggerating). It started with a lamp for my office. Then a mirror. A canvas. Then these stools. My bedside table. The list will probably go on until Lowe’s runs out of cans.
In this new season I’m in, I have a little something I never experienced in college: free time. Which means dinner with friends, books to read, Netflix shows to binge watch, and my new favorite hobby of up-cycling. This combines painting with thrifting, which are two dear loves of mine. Many more crafty, Pinterest inspired projects in my future? Yes please.

Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 12.11.03 PMDodger Blue

Does this really need any explanation? Born and raised in LA; I bleed Dodger blue. #ITFDB Baseball games, friendly rivalries, and hot dogs – there is going to be a lot of that in my post college years!

IMG_6235Blue…berry Pancakes

I decided at the beginning of 2015 that I wanted to feed my friendships… literally with food, but also emotionally and spiritually. This Sunday I invited 20 wonderful women in my life over to my house for blueberry pancakes, because the world needs more of that. Also, I need more of them. I need safe people, honest conversations, and community. I want to fight for that, above all, in these post college years.

Photo on 4-15-15 at 1.07 PM #2My Journal that Happens to be Blue….

This one was kind of a stretch. But how fitting?! My students got me this journal for graduation (they’re the sweetest!). It traveled to Malawi and back with me; it’s currently home for all my ramblings and sermon notes and thoughts and quotes and questions. Which is what I want my post college life to be full of. Writing. Dreaming. Scheming.


So maybe the inevitable slump will hit me in a year or two. Maybe my blues are just showing up on Malawi time. Maybe in a few months I’ll look back on this and think “Oh, little, naive Krysti. Thinking you can laugh in the face of The Worst Years of Your Life. If only you knew….” But just maybe I’m embarking on some of the best. Maybe I’m entering a new phase that will put my college years to shame. Maybe I am the 1%, I’ll live up to CS Lewis’ wise words of “there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind…”
After all, I’ve never been normal.

3 thoughts on “Post College Blues

  1. Pingback: How to Adult

  2. Hi Krysti, love your blog! I went to high school with you but don’t think I ever got the chance to meet you. Keep up the great writing 🙂

  3. Pingback: The Dating Game | Pursuing Passion

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *