I cannot believe the time has come. I am a senior in college! Graduation is quickly approaching and in a short seven months my academic career will be behind me. With my diploma in hand, I will be eager to begin a new chapter in my life.
Clearly, it is time to face reality. Along with millions of other millenials, I am in the beginning stages of figuring out what to do with the rest of my life. Here is what I have learned up to this point, thanks to some helpful advice and experience:
Life is a process of elimination
Do I know what I want to do when I graduate yet? Honestly, no. I don’t know where I want to live, what type of company I want to work for or what position would be best suited for my personality and talents. And that answer terrifies me.
But I can say with full confidence that life is a process of elimination. Think back to the time when you were in the first grade. What did you want to be? A fireman, a scientist or maybe even a superhero? For me, I wanted to be a teacher. I loved math and enjoyed telling other
people what to do. Now fast-forward a few years to high school. What did you want to be? Your
answer probably changed. Perhaps you wanted to become a doctor, musician or a professional athlete. Personally, I wanted to be a vet. I loved animals and could spot a purebred from a mile away. And now fast forward to your first year of college. At this point, were you finally confident in what you wanted to be in life? Again, probably not! My major and career goals have changed quite a few times and I am sure you share a similar story.
The point is, as you go throughout life, you gain experiences. And with experience comes preferences. You slowly learn that you have a great memory, fantastic people skills or maybe even an artistic flair. You also learn what you don’t like. You don’t like speaking to a large group of people or you get squeamish around blood.
Ultimately, you are able to check things off your list that you are sure you do not want to do. And this is the key. Figuring out what you don’t like is a necessary part of the journey to finding what you do like.
Think it, dream it, be it
Growing up, my family and teachers always told me that I could do anything and be anything that I wanted. I always found this hard to believe, but now as a senior, I have much greater confidence. Uncertainty is apart of life and that is what makes everything so fantastic. Yes, I am terrified that I am a 21-year-old senior in college who does not have my entire future planned out yet. And I am sure I am not alone in the fear or hesitancy. But no matter your unique,
individual life stage, I am sure of one thing. If you combine your passion, dedication and perseverance into one, you will be an unstoppable force.
While it is okay to be unsure of what you would like to do in your career, remember to dream big. It is all about gaining experiences that will continue to move you forward in your journey
of self-discovery. Do not limit your search! If you want to move to China, apply for that visa. If you want to work at a Big-4, write the strongest essays you can muster and challenge those interviewing skills.
Now is the time in your life where possibilities are limitless. Do not say no to an opportunity just because it was not what you were envisioning; keep your eyes open.
Go with it. Update that checklist, dream big, trust the process and have fun while you are doing it. We would love to hear your thoughts. Do you have any advice for new graduates or those making a big life change?
Share with us in the comments below!
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Julia Pizzutti is an intern for WordWrite Communications. You can find her on Twitter @julzutti93.
