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Navigating life in Athens after college

Nov 07, 2022

You’ve walked across the stage, moved your tassel from right to left and hit every bar on your senior shuffle. Now what?

For many, the next step is moving out of town, whether it be back home with their parents or to a new city to start working professionally. But if you’re not ready to leave Athens yet, that’s OK, too. For the young adult, there are plenty of things to enjoy and memories to create outside of campus. Here are a few tips – and things to check out – for living life in Athens after graduation. 

Your career can start here

The coronavirus pandemic has completely altered the professional landscape. The days of working nine to five and long commutes are long gone. Many workplaces operate virtually with flexible hours, allowing employees to work from any corner of the globe. A recent article from Forbes projects that approximately a quarter of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022 – and that figure will increase into the following year. 

Because of the professional world’s ascension into a virtual-first landscape, it’s totally feasible to apply, interview and start a new job without ever having to leave town. And as an OU graduate, you’ll be able to use the resources of the Career Leadership and Development Center (CLDC) in Baker Center on campus to get advice on cover letters, resumes and more. 

Also, as a college town, Athens is walkable and equipped with tons of places for students to study, which can also serve just as easily as a mobile office for you and your work. Instead of studying for exams at Alden Library or writing a report at a coffee shop, you can use these places to work on work-related assignments. 

There’s a large artistic community in Athens

Corporate life not your style? No worries. Athens has huge artistic community, for those looking to spend their days creating videos, paintings, music and much more. 

One of the most prominent fixtures of the Athens art community is Arts/West, located at 132 W. State St. It’s a community art center that puts on performances, curates galleries and holds classes for the entire region. 

For those who enjoy working for non-profits and giving back to the community, Passion Works Studio, 20 E. State St., is a great place to go and check out. The studio is a collaboration between those with and without developmental disabilities to create inspirational and uplifting art. 

Athens is also home to a thriving music community. Many popular bands, like CAAMP and Southeast Engine, got their start in the rolling hills of Southeast Ohio. There are house shows all around town, especially during the school year, and plenty of bars and restaurants hire live music for their patrons. 

So much to explore and try

Athens is more than a single street lined with bars. The town is nestled in a gorgeous stretch of Appalachia, where nature trails are in abundance. Right next door to Athens is Wayne National Forest, filled with serene camping and hiking spots. To the north is Burr Oak State Park, another amazing spot for exploring Appalachian nature.

If the outdoors isn’t your cup of tea, that’s OK. Athens and the surrounding towns are home to some incredible restaurants and cafes. In Athens, there’s the Townsend Coffee Bar, 9133 Rock Riffle Rd., and Little Fish Brewing Company, 8675 Armitage Rd., both located on the fringes of town. In The Plains, there’s Gigi’s Country Kitchen, 105 N. Plains Rd, and Eclipse Company Store, 11309 Jackson Dr., the former serving delicious breakfast items and the latter cooking up savory and smoky barbeque.

Athens delivers so much – arts, nature and great food. And while it is a college town at its core, there are an incredible array of things to do for those who have graduated and wish to stay for the long-term. …Perhaps best of all, the cost of living in Athens is super-low. You won’t find more affordable apartments or food if you graduate to urban life, that’s for sure!