After College Transition

Thrive After College / By Erica Young Reitz

Blog

Live Training Course!

Jan 21, 2019
If you viewed the last video, then you know I have something super exciting I want to share with you!  It’s a special, limited-time opportunity that I can’t wait to tell you about: a live training course for practitioners (student affairs professionals, college ministers and church leaders) who want to equip students to thrive after college.  Are […]

Live Training Course!

by

If you viewed the last video, then you know I have something super exciting I want to share with you!  It’s a special, limited-time opportunity that I can’t wait to tell you about: a live training course for practitioners (student affairs professionals, college ministers and church leaders) who want to equip students to thrive after college.  Are […]

The Importance of Place and Space in Preparing Students for Life After College

Jan 19, 2019
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo9ZVK_I9aE[/embedyt] In this video I share a little bit about how the Life After College program got started at Hope College. One of the key things we talked about as it was getting off the ground was the importance of space and place. At the end of the video I mention a special, limited-time […]

The Importance of Place and Space in Preparing Students for Life After College

by

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eo9ZVK_I9aE[/embedyt] In this video I share a little bit about how the Life After College program got started at Hope College. One of the key things we talked about as it was getting off the ground was the importance of space and place. At the end of the video I mention a special, limited-time […]

5 “Must-Have” Features of the Best Interventions to Equip Students for Life After College

Jan 17, 2019
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMB4QiSMtqw[/embedyt] I’m excited to share the second video in this series! If you’re wondering where to start or what to works towards, this next video covers 5 “must have” features we should include in any intervention to equip students for life after college. I also touch on the question of “Who is responsible for our […]

5 “Must-Have” Features of the Best Interventions to Equip Students for Life After College

by

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMB4QiSMtqw[/embedyt] I’m excited to share the second video in this series! If you’re wondering where to start or what to works towards, this next video covers 5 “must have” features we should include in any intervention to equip students for life after college. I also touch on the question of “Who is responsible for our […]

Why Equipping Students for Life After College Matters & How You Can Help

Jan 15, 2019
This is the first of series of videos for those who are serious about equipping students for life after college. In this video I get personal – see if you notice it before the reveal. 🙂 I also share why this matters – how intervening in the lives of students during the college years makes […]

Why Equipping Students for Life After College Matters & How You Can Help

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This is the first of series of videos for those who are serious about equipping students for life after college. In this video I get personal – see if you notice it before the reveal. 🙂 I also share why this matters – how intervening in the lives of students during the college years makes […]

Happy Epiphany! & Tips for Transitional Times

Jan 7, 2019
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you continue to celebrate as we remember today the Magi who traveled miles to visit the new born King. As students also travel miles to return for classes (today or in the coming weeks), they too many be looking to encounter the Savior. As great […]

Happy Epiphany! & Tips for Transitional Times

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I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you continue to celebrate as we remember today the Magi who traveled miles to visit the new born King. As students also travel miles to return for classes (today or in the coming weeks), they too many be looking to encounter the Savior. As great […]

Special Video Message from Erica

Dec 19, 2018
Those who approach transitions (vs. avoid them) are more likely to thrive within them. Here’s a special video message you don’t want to miss! Your comments and feedback help me create customized content. Thank you for filling out the survey. If you haven’t, it’s not too late. I want to hear from you! Please leave […]

Special Video Message from Erica

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Those who approach transitions (vs. avoid them) are more likely to thrive within them. Here’s a special video message you don’t want to miss! Your comments and feedback help me create customized content. Thank you for filling out the survey. If you haven’t, it’s not too late. I want to hear from you! Please leave […]

Making the Most of Trips, Retreats, and Conferences

Oct 29, 2018
What’s the secret to making the most of trips, retreats and conferences? If you work with college students and want to maximize the potential of your fall retreats, winter events or spring break trips, check this out! Making the Most of Trips, Retreats, and Conferences

Making the Most of Trips, Retreats, and Conferences

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What’s the secret to making the most of trips, retreats and conferences? If you work with college students and want to maximize the potential of your fall retreats, winter events or spring break trips, check this out! Making the Most of Trips, Retreats, and Conferences

Life After College is Weird

Oct 22, 2018
When conducting my research and talking with dozens of post-grads about life after college, the most common word they used to describe the experience was “weird.” It’s not like anything they’ve experienced prior to this time. It’s not like it stays weird until we’re 30, but until we find our new normal, life after college […]

Life After College is Weird

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When conducting my research and talking with dozens of post-grads about life after college, the most common word they used to describe the experience was “weird.” It’s not like anything they’ve experienced prior to this time. It’s not like it stays weird until we’re 30, but until we find our new normal, life after college […]

What’s the Hardest Part of Transitions?

Sep 4, 2018
One of the most difficult parts of any transition is the “in-between” time — that fallow, middle space in which the former thing has ended but the new thing has not yet arrived. This photograph of a fallow Pennsylvania field was taken by my friend, Howie Shultz. He titled it, Waiting for Spring. During transitional […]

What’s the Hardest Part of Transitions?

by

One of the most difficult parts of any transition is the “in-between” time — that fallow, middle space in which the former thing has ended but the new thing has not yet arrived. This photograph of a fallow Pennsylvania field was taken by my friend, Howie Shultz. He titled it, Waiting for Spring. During transitional […]

Just Try Something: Personal Finances and the “Real World”

Jun 8, 2018
Penn State alum, Paul Girgis, and his friend, William Ferguson, have spent considerable time exploring how millenials approach money. You can check out some of their research findings here. In this article below, they apply concepts of design thinking to personal finance; we have to test, try, and even fail to learn what works best! Just […]

Just Try Something: Personal Finances and the “Real World”

by

Penn State alum, Paul Girgis, and his friend, William Ferguson, have spent considerable time exploring how millenials approach money. You can check out some of their research findings here. In this article below, they apply concepts of design thinking to personal finance; we have to test, try, and even fail to learn what works best! Just […]

What Home Remodels Teach Us About Transitions

May 31, 2018
My husband, Craig, and I love watching home remodel shows. We grieved the Fixer-Upper farewell with the rest of the HGTV-watching world, and we’ll continue to tune into some of our other favorites. The son of a contractor, Craig comes by this interest honestly. While I have no talent for repairs, seeing an old home […]

What Home Remodels Teach Us About Transitions

by

My husband, Craig, and I love watching home remodel shows. We grieved the Fixer-Upper farewell with the rest of the HGTV-watching world, and we’ll continue to tune into some of our other favorites. The son of a contractor, Craig comes by this interest honestly. While I have no talent for repairs, seeing an old home […]

When Passions Don’t Pay: Trusting God With Your Work

May 24, 2018
What do we do when our paid work and passions don’t align? While it’s ideal to find a job where we get to do what we do best everyday, only a small percentage of people enjoy that luxury. If we find ourselves in a less-than-best job, let’s not lose heart. Here’s some perspective, wisdom, and hope […]

When Passions Don’t Pay: Trusting God With Your Work

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What do we do when our paid work and passions don’t align? While it’s ideal to find a job where we get to do what we do best everyday, only a small percentage of people enjoy that luxury. If we find ourselves in a less-than-best job, let’s not lose heart. Here’s some perspective, wisdom, and hope […]

Not What He Expected

May 17, 2018
When life after college does not pan out as expected, it can be easy to question, “Have done something wrong? Did I make a mistake in moving here, taking this job, or marrying this person?” Just because something feels disorienting or distressing, it doesn’t mean we need to go somewhere else. In fact, we might be […]

Not What He Expected

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When life after college does not pan out as expected, it can be easy to question, “Have done something wrong? Did I make a mistake in moving here, taking this job, or marrying this person?” Just because something feels disorienting or distressing, it doesn’t mean we need to go somewhere else. In fact, we might be […]

Launching College Students Who Land in the Local Church

May 10, 2018
By September of his senior year, David had two great job offers. Two offers. In two totally different cities. As he compared the hiring packages, starting salaries and corporate cultures for each position, we challenged him to consider one more factor: location. As his campus ministers, we asked, Which offer will land you in a […]

Launching College Students Who Land in the Local Church

by

By September of his senior year, David had two great job offers. Two offers. In two totally different cities. As he compared the hiring packages, starting salaries and corporate cultures for each position, we challenged him to consider one more factor: location. As his campus ministers, we asked, Which offer will land you in a […]

Change is the Only Constant: Wisdom from a Graduating Senior

May 4, 2018
In her Onward State column, photographer and graduating senior, Sarah Snyder, looks back on her college journey, which did not play out as she predicted. Instead of freaking out or throwing her hands in the air when things did not go as planned, Sarah embraced the unknown. She writes, “There are always so many blessings in […]

Change is the Only Constant: Wisdom from a Graduating Senior

by

In her Onward State column, photographer and graduating senior, Sarah Snyder, looks back on her college journey, which did not play out as she predicted. Instead of freaking out or throwing her hands in the air when things did not go as planned, Sarah embraced the unknown. She writes, “There are always so many blessings in […]

Millenials & Money: What’s Your M.O. & Is it Working?

Apr 13, 2018
Financial faithfulness — how we steward the money that God allows to pass through our hands — is not easy, especially right after college. If we want to pursue a healthy approach, one of the best things we can do is take an honest look at our current habits. Penn State alum and innovator, Paul […]

Millenials & Money: What’s Your M.O. & Is it Working?

by

Financial faithfulness — how we steward the money that God allows to pass through our hands — is not easy, especially right after college. If we want to pursue a healthy approach, one of the best things we can do is take an honest look at our current habits. Penn State alum and innovator, Paul […]

Just Tell Me What I Need to Know: Community After College

Mar 2, 2018
What’s one of the top issues post-graduates face? Finding friends and community. I had a blast this past weekend talking with students about this issue and others at CCO’s Jubilee Conference. See below for some of what we discussed. Just Tell Me What I Need to Know: Community After College It’s Friday night. After a […]

Just Tell Me What I Need to Know: Community After College

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What’s one of the top issues post-graduates face? Finding friends and community. I had a blast this past weekend talking with students about this issue and others at CCO’s Jubilee Conference. See below for some of what we discussed. Just Tell Me What I Need to Know: Community After College It’s Friday night. After a […]

Two Truths and a Lie About Singleness

Feb 23, 2018
When I was in my mid-twenties, my friend Kimi and I entered an essay contest for twentysomething writers that invited us to explore a question that was keeping us up a night. Kimi wrote a thoughtful piece about race issues and ethnic identity. I, too, had deep questions related to politics, justice, and so on, but […]

Two Truths and a Lie About Singleness

by

When I was in my mid-twenties, my friend Kimi and I entered an essay contest for twentysomething writers that invited us to explore a question that was keeping us up a night. Kimi wrote a thoughtful piece about race issues and ethnic identity. I, too, had deep questions related to politics, justice, and so on, but […]

God is Not A Magic 8-Ball

Feb 1, 2018
Life is chock-full of choices. Every day we make thousands of little decisions—what to eat, what to wear, how to spend our time or money.  And this doesn’t even include the huge questions we may be contemplating: Where should I go and what should I do after college? Should I go to graduate school or […]

God is Not A Magic 8-Ball

by

Life is chock-full of choices. Every day we make thousands of little decisions—what to eat, what to wear, how to spend our time or money.  And this doesn’t even include the huge questions we may be contemplating: Where should I go and what should I do after college? Should I go to graduate school or […]

5 Strategies for Preparing Students for The Workplace

Dec 19, 2017
What’s the best part of the transition into the workplace? The hardest? This article looks at the opportunities and obstacles of adjusting to that first job as well as 5 strategies for workplace success. 5 Strategies for Preparing Students for the Workplace  

5 Strategies for Preparing Students for The Workplace

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What’s the best part of the transition into the workplace? The hardest? This article looks at the opportunities and obstacles of adjusting to that first job as well as 5 strategies for workplace success. 5 Strategies for Preparing Students for the Workplace  

Stop Overspiritualizing Calling

Nov 30, 2017
Am I called? This question can plague us or send us into analysis paralysis. In this article, Bethany Jenkins helps us stop overthinking, challenges us to start well and work hard (no matter what job we do), and reminds us that we are all called to be children of God. If you’re agonizing over your next […]

Stop Overspiritualizing Calling

by

Am I called? This question can plague us or send us into analysis paralysis. In this article, Bethany Jenkins helps us stop overthinking, challenges us to start well and work hard (no matter what job we do), and reminds us that we are all called to be children of God. If you’re agonizing over your next […]

5 Mistakes to Avoid
When Equipping Students
for Life After College

Let me guess: You care about equipping students to thrive after college, but you’re not sure where to start or how to grow stronger in your efforts. Learn some of the pitfalls to avoid as well as how to turn the opposite actions into best practices. Sign up below!