If you spend ten minutes with me, you’ll realize I am terrible at making decisions, and I’m even more terrified of commitment (I’ve changed my major 7 times, if that’s any indication). So the concept of trying to find a job after college is both horrifying and exhilarating to me. In just four months, I will (hopefully) be graduated, and I have no idea what I want to do next. Throughout my college career, I’ve been so focused on getting good grades and taking advantage of any experience I could that I forgot to stop and think about what I really like.
The first couple of years of college, I had leadership positions in clubs I didn’t even like and was spending all my time focusing on something I really didn’t care about. This year was the first time I decided to only be involved in things I actually enjoyed. I got involved with non-profits, began getting more involved in my majors, and joined clubs focusing on writing and art. I was surprised at how much energy I had and how much more excited I was to attend meetings and go to work.
A couple of weeks ago I went to my first post-college career interview. I found that I was so much more excited and passionate when they asked me questions about my interests and what careers I was looking into. Even though I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I finally knew what I really loved and was good at. I ended up being offered the position, an internship in project management. To be honest, I’m still not sure that’s what I want to do. I might not ever be sure what I really want to do “when I grow up,” but I’m excited for this opportunity and to see where it leads me next. I still don’t really know where I want to be in ten years, but I’m beginning to be okay with that.
My advice: definitely get involved on campus, but only with things you like to do. If you just start doing whatever opportunities are thrown at you, regardless of your interests, you’ll get stuck in an endless cycle of not enjoying your life but just going through the motions. Find something you’re interested in, get involved, and if you decide later you don’t really like it, don’t be afraid to quit and try something new. You’ll never know what you’re missing out on if you don’t. Good luck!
CATEGORIES: Inside Scoop