Dear Class of 2013,
Several weeks ago you got a deeply motivational speech from a luminary in their field about the journey that lies ahead and the potential within. You walked across that stage, auditorium floor, or quad with the assured confidence of someone ready to close one chapter of your life and begin another. Welcome to that next chapter. It begins in your parents' house, the one you left four years ago thinking that you would never return. Living with your parents again isn't easy, but with no money, a difficult job market, and looming debt, it's a nice alternative to starving on the streets. So, here you are.
When I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009, I was in the same situation. I had chosen three majors, film, creative writing, and theatre, and that all but assured a life time of poverty. A career in any of those fields practically demands one move to New York or Los Angeles, two of the most expensive cities in the country. I had $50 in my bank account. The next eight months of my life were spent back in the sleepy town of Stewartstown, Pa., living with my parents, saving money, and figuring out what the hell I was going to do. I'm not saying I did it well (I'm not sure if there is a way to do it well), but I did it, and it would have been nice if someone gave me a few tips before I moved back into my old bedroom. Okay, well, actually, my younger sister had taken over my old bedroom, and I was moved to her old room, but you get the point.
Good luck. Godspeed. Get out of there as soon as possible. In the mean time, here is A Survival Guide for Moving Back in with Your Parents After Graduation.