Shit nobody tells you about post-college, from @everythingebbie's pov.

Graduating college sounds like the finish line, but it’s actually the beginning of a four-year-long identity crisis in Tony Bianco heels.

One minute, you’re skipping your language requirement for day drinks on a Tuesday. The next, you’re three weeks into your first influencer marketing job, Googling “how to email professionally” while crying on the floor of your three-bedroom flex in Murray Hill because your favorite Coconut Cult flavor is sold out.

The shift is silent but seismic. Suddenly, you’re expected to figure out who you are — outside of sororities, group chats, and the personality you built around a major you picked at 18.

So instead of spiraling alone (again), we called in someone who’s in it, living it, and sharing every unfiltered, unglamorous, occasionally unhinged detail along the way.

Enter Ebbie Stutts, the New York City–based fashion and lifestyle creator behind @everythingebbie ...and your new favorite guide to surviving your 20s with ambition, anxiety, and just the right amount of Aritzia.

A University of Alabama grad who recently made the move to NYC, Ebbie built her platform by blending style, wellness, mental health advocacy, and real-girl storytelling — all with the energy of someone who’s cried on Broome Street and knows exactly where to get a $12 smoothie that’s actually worth it.

To top it off, Ebbie is also a certified Pilates instructor and the co-founder of a mental health nonprofit. But don’t worry… she still spirals in the Trader Joe’s line like the rest of us.

She’s done the whole post-grad thing: spiritually rejected by Dimes, emotionally wrecked by a brand event Uber surge, and physically exhausted from walking 30 blocks because “it’s only 30 blocks.”

Exclusively at Fluent, Ebbie shares everything she wishes someone had told her about life after college — the good, the bad, and the deeply humbling (see: trying to file taxes when your job title is technically “influencer”).

TLDR: Post-grad isn’t a vibe. It’s a full-blown menty b with a side of $9 matcha.

You probably will have an identity crisis.

Your life for the past four years has basically been defined by who you were surrounded by, what sorority you were in, your major, who you dated, etc. Those things were how people described you and essentially made you “you.” You get to post-grad and all of that goes away. It’s freeing not to be attached to those labels anymore, but it’s also such an odd feeling trying to redefine what actually makes you, you. It can be scary but also really liberating because for the first time, you get to choose who you truly want to be.

You can sink or swim, and it’s very easy to sink.

You can sink or swim, and it’s very easy to sink.

The real world, in comparison to college, moves so much faster and doesn’t really allow room for mistakes. No more asking your professor for an extension because you’re “not feeling well.” That won’t fly anymore, lol. In post-grad, you have to keep up with your stuff. If you fall behind, it’s so much harder to get back up.

Having a job is actually really rewarding AF.

I can’t fully explain it, but having someone rely on you and trust you with real responsibilities is incredibly validating. It makes you proud of yourself and gives you that “hell yeah, I can do this and someone else believes in me” kind of feeling.

It’s the first time in your life you handpick your friends — and it’s amazing.

Think about it: in high school, your friend group was whoever went to your school. In college, it might’ve expanded a bit, but you were still grouped by classes, majors, sororities, clubs, teams, etc. Now, you get to start from zero... and that’s awesome. You can choose exactly who you want to surround yourself with. You’ll make friends from all different corners of your life and get to decide which ones you want to keep close and which ones you don’t. (Except your coworkers… pray you have good ones.)

No more 1 p.m. workout classes.

Sadly, you no longer have that three-hour midday break to work out, run errands or finish laundry. A lot of your personal time gets sacrificed for things that aren’t all that glamorous and that takes adjusting. In college, after class came playtime. In the real world? After work comes “get your life together” time, so maybe you can play at the end of the week.

Your Fridays and Saturdays are sacred.

Since personal time is slim post-grad, finding time to do your thing is so important. Personally, my dream Saturday involves waking up not hungover and going to a workout class because that’s what makes me feel good. Some people prefer something different and that’s okay. Learn not to let other people’s lifestyles change the way you live yours. Doing what fills you up will make you happiest, while living for others will just burn you out. Trust, been there.

You have to learn how to grow up in 0.5 seconds.

What do you mean, I’m supposed to know how to do my taxes when I spent the last four years majoring in hospitality? What? My dad literally just ordered me a book called Tax-Free Wealth. Really looking forward to diving into that one...

You are the freest you will ever be in your life! 

Take that thought from scary to motivating. The fact that you have endless options right now is a blessing. Your life isn’t over once college ends. It’s actually just beginning. I love post-grad way more than I thought I would, and I’m learning so much about myself every day. You’ll grow, fail, thrive and evolve if you let yourself experience all the highs and lows that come with this season of life. Reality check: you’re not going back to college. So stop harping on the past and start building your future. You can either be the reason you succeed or fail... which one are you choosing?