Fear Of Failure After Graduation: What Comes After?

By Giulia Rainero

February 7, 2025

You’re almost there...Graduation is just around the corner!”, “Congrats, you did so well!”

You’ve survived the impossible exams, all the group projects that felt like torture and the countless sleepless nights fuelled by coffee and snacks to finish your finals.

Well done, you made it to the real world! So... what’s next?Unfortunately, no one gives you a manual on dealing with the huge existential crisis of figuring out what to do with your future.

Should I look for a good master’s program? And which one is the best for me? Maybe I should find a job? Or maybe take a gap year to “find myself” while working in the meantime – is that the best solution? Who even knows?

The “What If I Fail” Nightmare

We’ve all had, or still have, that annoying little voice in our head. Loud and shrill, like an overprotective parent.

That’s when all those questions arise, making you feel so small and so insecure in a world that suddenly seems enormous: “What if I’m not good enough?” “What if I don’t like my job” “What If I regret not doing a master’s degree?” This deafening voice, Atychiphobia, is the technical term for the fear of failure.

It refers to that deep anxiety that every decision you make could turn into a disaster.

When you’re about to take a big step, or face something that feels monumental, this fear becomes an unbearable weight on your shoulders. Your body starts to react: your heart races, your hands tremble, and you feel lost, like the moment could fall apart at any second.

But remember: no matter how loud or overwhelming Atychiphobia gets, it is still just a voice inside you. You can, and must take control. In the end, you’re in charge. Not the fear.

Mental Health: Your Invisible Strength

We don’t talk enough about how vital mental health is in our lives. If your mental balance is off, life becomes harder to handle. Too often, we’re focused solely on what’s next, graduation, jobs, Master’s degrees, without pausing to ask ourselves how we’re really doing. All this pressure can lead to a cocktail of emotions: confusion, anxiety, even depression.

But hey, pause for a moment. It’s okay not to have everything under control.

It’s okay to ask for help when you’re not feeling your best. Your mental health is just as important as your degree or your career. So, do what feels right for you. And if it all feels like too much, reach out.

Talk to a therapist. Or a friend. Sometimes, one conversation can change everything.

Remember: You’re Not Alone

Failure is not a life sentence. Let me tell you a secret: most successful people have probably failed at least 50 times before breakfast today. They didn’t get the dream job. Their first day at work was awkward. They had doubts about doing a Master’s. But they kept going. They learned. And, most importantly, they understood that failure does not mean the end. It’s simply a messy, slightly chaotic part of life.

It’s Okay Not to Have Everything Under Control

Let’s talk about “perfection.” Honestly? It’s overrated.Having everything under control, your career, studies, even your skincare routine,

is a myth. No one has it all together, no matter how polished their TikToks look. This isn’t a Netflix movie.

Real life is messy, unpredictable, a little weird, but also beautiful and fun. Try living it without putting pressure on yourself to figure everything out in a single day. You’re not failing. You’re simply discovering the world, one unsure step at a time. And you can slow down whenever you need to.

One day at a time. One step at a time. You’re doing great.

Now take a deep breath, smile at the chaos, and give yourself permission not to have everything under control. Because honestly... who ever did? Certainly not the person who invented matcha.