Now That We’ve Graduated… What’s Next?

By Shugga D. Rosenbloom, Contributing Writer, UVI Voice 2.0

As the caps fall and the cheers fade, a new question rises for the Class of 2025: Now that we’ve graduated—what’s next?

For some of us, this moment has been decades in the making. We graduated in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and yes—even in our late 60s. It took some four years, others five, and for a few of us, it took 12 to 14 years to cross the finish line. But we made it. And now the question lingers in the air: what do we do with this hard-earned degree?

Do we rush into the job market, resume in hand? Do we breathe for a moment and pin the degree to the wall as a badge of honor and survival? Or do we dare to do more—like apply to graduate school?

Some will head straight into the workforce. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 74% of U.S. college graduates secure employment within six months. Others are already eyeing the next academic summit. At UVI, graduate studies in fields like education, business, and leadership continue to draw recent alumni looking to deepen their impact. And while we’re still waiting on that billion-dollar endowment like Yale, Juilliard, or Harvard, there’s confidence that UVI’s leadership is paving the way forward.

But even in celebration, there can be sorrow. For this writer, one bittersweet truth remains: I won’t be there in person to walk across the stage. My final confirmation came late. I had already taken flight—literally—and found myself on the other side of the world when I got the news. I had officially earned my Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on communication, criminal justice, and theater. A joyous moment, yes—but the distance meant missing the ceremony.

And unless someone’s got an extra $2,500 lying around—because let’s be honest, I don’t fly coach—I’ll be cheering from afar. I even considered sending in a video, singing Lena Horne’s “Believe in Yourself” from The Wiz, just to remind the Class of 2025 that the journey is still worth it.

Graduation is not the end. It’s a portal.

Many adult learners know the uphill battle of balancing life and learning—raising families, surviving illness, navigating financial strain. As the scripture says, “The race is not given to the swift, nor to the strong, but to the one who endures to the end.” And if you’ve made it to graduation, you already know what endurance looks like.

As for me? I know exactly what I’m going to do. It’s already on the vision board. It’s been a long time, and yes—change has finally come.

So to the Class of 2025 and beyond: take a moment, breathe it in, and then rise. Whether you’re headed to grad school, launching a business, stepping into ministry, or charting your own path—do it boldly, with your whole heart. You finished strong. And your next chapter is already calling.