Finding confidence after college

For many students, graduation feels like a cliff—the moment where everything changes overnight. For Blake Stanbaugh ’25, the shift into post-college life has been real, but not as dramatic as he once imagined.

“A lot of times people say, ‘One day you’re at school and the next day you’re done—everything looks so different,’” he said. “But in reality, it doesn’t really look different after you graduate, even though there’s that notion out there that everything changes.”

Blake, a hospitality services graduate from Clio, Mich., now works for Little Caesars as a franchise business consultant, splitting his time between remote work and traveling to Nashville for on-site store reviews. His path into the position started early. After meeting alumni during a CBA event, he began interviewing months before graduation.

“I started interviewing in November and officially got the job in April,” he said. “Because I applied early, they kept my application on file until they were hiring for the summer group. It was a lot of back and forth, and making sure I stayed on top of it.”

Learning to navigate the unknown

Blake said the transition into full-time work brought a new kind of uncertainty—but also steady growth.

“It’s the first time in 21 years that you don’t know what you’re going to do next,” he said. “You go to elementary school, middle school, high school, then college. And then you’re done. It looks like the end of the road, and you think, ‘Where do I go from here?’ But if you look through the fog, it keeps going.”

That long-term perspective wasn’t always easy for him. Blake shared openly that he grew up with social anxiety and had to learn how to push himself into new environments.

“I’ve always lived with that sense of anxiety inside,” he said. “Before sophomore, junior, senior year of college, I was not like this at all. But meeting mentors like Lori [Driessnack] and Amy [McGinnis]—my two college moms—helped me start stepping into things and understanding myself better.”

Finding the right fit

Though Blake came from a full-service hospitality background, joining the corporate side of a quick-service brand ended up being a strong match.

“It’s still in the industry I love. Everything I had done was full service—restaurants, hotels—but this was different,” he said. “Once I heard from the alumni who work there, and realized there are jobs like this that don’t require weekends, holidays, and nights, it opened my eyes. We’re not serving the final guest directly, but we’re helping franchisees succeed, and that still impacts the customer experience.”

The culture sealed the decision.

“It feels like family,” he said. “Even though we’re the third largest pizza chain in the world, we’re still privately owned. My team is amazing. We text all the time. We’re not just co-workers—we’re closer than co-workers now.”

The turning points

Blake’s time at CMU included a defining “yes” that changed everything: studying abroad.

“I remember when I first met with my advisor. She asked if I wanted to leave a credit open for study abroad and I literally told her, ‘Oh no, we can fill it. I’m not going to study abroad.’ And a year later I was signing up.”

That experience gave him some of his favorite new perspectives.

“I told myself, I just have to get on the plane. Once I’m on the plane, there’s nothing I can do. And had I not done it, I wouldn’t have met the most amazing people or seen things like Westminster Abbey or a Welsh winery,” he said. “It was one of those opportunities I never would have experienced if I let my anxiety control me.”

Blake even arranged part of the itinerary himself—calling a vineyard in Wales from the U.S., navigating time zones, and helping plan a business-focused visit.

“We learned that Michigan’s wine climate and the Welsh wine climate are very similar,” he said. “And the way they operate—like using wool from local farmers instead of pesticides—showed how different business can be in other places. It creates this mindset that partnership can be beneficial for both sides.”

What he wants current students to know

Blake doesn’t hesitate when offering his biggest piece of advice.

“Say yes,” he said. “If it’s an opportunity you don’t like, now you know what you don’t want to do. But if you always say no, you’ll never learn what you like because you don’t try new things.”

But he also emphasizes balance.

“Don’t burn yourself out. If eight people ask you to do something on Monday, that’s not realistic. But being open to trying new things gets you outside your comfort zone. You don’t grow when you’re inside your comfort zone.”

He encourages students to invest in relationships, too.

“One day you’re here, and one day you’re not. It’s not a huge change, but things do change. Enjoy college while you’re in it. Have some fun. Get to know people. They were truly the best years of my life."

What's on the horizon?

For now, Blake is living at home while saving for the future—a practical choice in today’s housing market. He’s already thinking about long-term financial habits and encourages students to do the same.

“I started my individual retirement account as a freshman,” he said. “As soon as you get that first big salary, pay attention to it. Budget. Save. It’s not the fun advice, but it’s real advice.”

As for the next five years, he’s taking a grounded but optimistic view.

“I’d love to still be at Little Caesars,” he said. “Even if I’m not in a leadership role yet, I hope to be making strides. I love the company, and I’d like to work my way up the ladder.”

Blake’s story reflects what so many students wonder as they approach graduation: what happens next, and will I be ready? His answer is both honest and encouraging.

“Being resistant to change doesn’t help you,” he said. “Some things changing is a good thing. It’s growth.”