Anxious about graduation?
You’re not alone!
Graduation season is upon us, but so is graduation anxiety. Despite graduation being an exciting and joyous moment, it also signifies a transition to a new phase of your life. Things will be incredibly different and uncertain for a time, as we navigate this new chapter in our lives post-graduation and break from routine.
Don’t let these feelings fester up inside. Here are 3 ways to manage post-graduation anxiety:
- Understand your emotions — In understanding our feelings, we can determine what they are linked to.
- Be kind to yourself — Comparison and an abundance mindset can exacerbate the normal post-graduation jittery emotions; while being mindful and grounded in the present can help us stay focused.
- Practice anxiety management skills — Keep revisiting your list of anxiety management skills, evaluating how appropriate they are for your lifestyle, and consider how many of them you use, when, and how often.
But what can I do now?
If you’re someone who plans everything down to a t, it’s hard to let go of control and accept the uncertainty of life. However, there are certain things that you should definitely act on. For example, applying for health insurance!
With rising healthcare costs, it’s important to protect your health and finances. As a recent graduate (& international student), my parents constantly reminded me about renewing my health insurance.
In 2022, a medical emergency landed me in the ER. Though I was previously aware of high healthcare costs, nothing prepared me and my family for the $14,000 bill we were given for a few hours in the hospital. It was our first time experiencing firsthand how scary medical expenses can be in the US, as the same procedure would have cost $150 in my home country of Malaysia. Thankfully, the entire bill was covered by my student health insurance, but we have been hyper-vigilant about maintaining health coverage in the US since.
As an Authorized Partner of the New York State of Health, Kimber Health is dedicated to providing $0 and affordable healthcare coverage to underserved communities. Thus, we would like to introduce the OPT Insurance Plans for our recent graduates.
Nothing beats some peace of mind when many of us are juggling job hunting, immigration, and transitioning away from student life.
For the lucky OPT holders in New York, we have the Essential Plan: at no cost at all, you can get full coverage for mental health services, emergency care, your annual gym membership, dental and vision care, and much more. There are no costs from start to finish!
For our OPT holders outside of New York — not to worry. The World Elite 450 plan provides comparable coverage to your university insurance. With an unlimited maximum benefit, the insurance plan will provide inexhaustible coverage no matter what happens. For those between age 17–25, the plan costs $1,248/yr or $3.42/day — that’s less than the cost of a cup of coffee. For our OPT holders between 26–27, the plan costs $1,740/yr or $4.77/day.
It takes just 5 minutes to make sure you have the medical and financial protection you need.
You’ll feel a bit more secure after checking this box off your list!
