Hey everyone — figured I'd finally put some words down about what life looks like after graduation. It's been about two months since I walked across the stage at UMass Amherst, got the handshake, the piece of paper, and the "Welcome to adulthood" speech. Now here I am — still in Amherst, but with no homework, no exams… just a remote job, a hyperactive dog, and two cats who run this apartment more than I do.
I landed a job with AETNA working in insurance — remote, full-time. It’s not exactly glamorous, but I’ll be honest, after four years of grinding out classes, I’m more than fine with working from home in sweatpants. Plus, with rent prices what they are around here, staying local made sense. I know a lot of people took off for Boston or New York, but for me? Amherst still feels like home.
The best part about working remotely? Ginger. She’s my golden retriever and, without exaggerating, the best coworker I’ve ever had. Every Zoom call is a gamble — will she bark at the UPS guy mid-meeting? Probably. But she also gets me out of the house for walks around Puffer’s Pond or the trails by the Notch. It’s honestly the only thing keeping me from completely losing my mind after eight straight hours of emails and spreadsheets.
Then there are the cats, Daisy and Mae. They're sisters, about a year old, and basically run this place. Daisy's the mischievous one — she has this thing where she knocks stuff off shelves just to watch me react. Mae's more chill — likes to sit by the window and judge the world. Between the three of them, there’s never a dull (or clean) moment in my apartment.
Social life? Well… that part’s still a work in progress. A lot of my college friends scattered after graduation. Some stuck around, but it’s not the same without the structure of classes or campus events. I hit up The Spoke or High Horse once in a while, but honestly, I’ve been more into exploring quiet spots, grabbing coffee at Share or Amherst Coffee, or just hanging at home watching movies with the pets.
Dating? Yeah… not much happening there. Dating apps are weird. Everyone’s either still figuring it out like me, or looking for something way more serious than I’m ready for. Plus, introducing “I have a dog and two cats” into a conversation isn’t always the smoothest opener — though Ginger’s puppy eyes help my case.
So, that’s life right now. Post-grad, figuring it out, one Zoom call and dog walk at a time. It’s not glamorous. But it’s simple, it’s mine, and hey — I’ve got good coffee, good hiking spots, and the best furry roommates a guy could ask for.
If anyone knows of a good hiking group or where people our age actually meet around here these days… hit me up. Otherwise, I’ll be the guy at the dog park chasing Ginger while my cats silently plot their next act of chaos back home.
