Dear Senior: a letter from a sophomore with love

Dear Confused and Clueless Senior,

I hope you are doing well.

I want to start this letter with an anecdote. The shuttle from the main campus to the city campus has been my main mode of transportation ever since I stepped inside IBA. During my freshman year, I once shared a seat with a senior. Our conversation started at a very odd note; the senior stopped the sleep-deprived me from smashing my head on the metal pole in the bus. The conversation that happened between us was generic at best. However, one thing stood out in this whole conversation: the uncertainty in the job market.

I remember the senior telling me about how the severe economic conditions in Pakistan from the year 2018-19 had a negative impact on the job market. However, I was glad that my elder brother wasn’t graduating that year and was optimistic that things would get better. How naive was I? The 2019 version of me, sitting in a crowded bus without a mask, didn’t know life was going to change.

Uncertainty is the second name of life

My dear confused and clueless senior, the purpose of me telling you this anecdote is that the job market will always be as unstable as your professor’s grading. Moreover, whether it be Covid-19 or the economic instability, the Pakistani job market operates on its own whims. The idea of a stable job market is as rare as the idea of the USA admitting its mistakes. Many of the seniors are scared about their future and rightfully so. The only thing I can say is- it’s going to be okay. You can’t control many factors in life; however, you can control the hard work you put towards your dream. If your stars are aligned and your intentions are good, nothing can stop you from achieving what you want.

What if you don’t have a dream?

It’s scary to be in your final semester and not be aware of what you truly want to do in life. As freshmen, we always thought that the seniors had everything sorted in their life. However, after seeing my elder brother finishing his last semester, I got to know it’s not always the case. It’s okay not to know what you want to do in life. Actually, it’s good you don’t know what you want to do in life. Consequently, the cluelessness of what to do with life leads one to experiment with multiple careers, before deciding which one to choose.

Conclusion

Dear Confused and clueless senior, we have always been taught that the ending will always be good – every conflict will be sorted and every question answered. But just like everything we have learned from movies, it’s not always the case. It’s okay, not to graduate with the desired GPA you wanted or not being hired by your dream corporation. However, it is important that you graduate knowing that you did your best in the given situation. I wish you all the best for the future and hope that everything works out for you.

Peace out.

Yours Sincerely,

Equally Confused and Clueless Sophomore.