I've been a college graduate for about 3 months. And let me tell you, I was dreading and anticipating this part of my life for quite a while. But 3 months later, I'm happier than I've ever been. I know, that might seem unusual in this economy. But it's true.

I can admit that I've been incredibly blessed. I have a family that loves and supports me through anything and everything, and friends who constantly listened to and guided me (and still do).

Throughout everything, I've learned some valuable things about the real world that I hope to impart on other high school and college students as they prepare to make their way into the world rather soon.

YOU'RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO BUDGET.

The year or two after college graduation is when you can best set yourself up for an amazing future. You don't want to rack up debt, or end up broke because you didn't plan ahead and think things through. This video taught me the 50-30-20 rule, which is something I'm going to try to follow as best I can, as I start earning more money post-grad.

Essentially, make sure that with the amount of money you're earning, you spend 50% on essentials (car payments, gas, mortgage, utilities, food), put 30% in savings, and spend 20% on whatever you want that month (movies, restaurants, etc). That way, you will always have enough to pay for your bills every month, and also be saving for your future.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE CONTACTS.

One of the things that helped me most in the months before/after my graduation was rekindling connections with people, and making new ones. People from church, high school, and family friends would constantly ask me about how I was doing, and I was never afraid to say that I was searching for a job and had just graduated college.

When people found out I was looking for a job, many of them would ask questions and then give me their contact information. They often told me they had friends in the industry who would be able to help me find a job. This was incredibly valuable for me, and I always followed up with an email thanking them for their time and willingness to help. This opened up the conversation further, and helped me find out about potential jobs.

UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN OFTEN.

Ah, LinkedIn. One of the most underrated online social platforms out there. I've learned that having an updated LinkedIn profile is crucial when it comes to finding a job and maintaining professional connections.

The weeks and months surrounding my graduation, I spent a lot of time updating my LinkedIn profile with prior positions, my educational history, work samples, and a more professional summary. I have completely redone my profile several times since graduation, continually updating and improving it. I also spent a lot of time researching online for articles (like this one) to help me understand how to have the best possible LinkedIn profile.

And since I've redone my profile, I've had more views and made more connections. It's an incredibly valuable tool. And don't stop at just updating your profile with jobs - post articles and interesting professional links on your profile every week or two weeks, so that you maintain an active and professional appearance on LinkedIn.

ALWAYS TAKE ON EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES.

I've been blessed with a job I love. However, I've still found a second job to earn a little bit of extra money and add to my resume, and a volunteer opportunity writing blog posts and taking photos so that I have more published work and can gain more experience.

Don't stick to doing just one thing (unless, of course, your job is highly demanding and doesn't leave you with much extra time). Take extra opportunities to learn more and get yourself ready for future jobs and experiences.

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Hopefully some of these will help you, or someone you know, survive life after college graduation. And these tips don't just apply to people after they've graduated college. These tips are really for anyone who is going through a transition or needs to rethink and re-plan their life or career path.

If you have any other tips or feedback, please comment below/like this article.