To the graduating class of 2021…
It’s already been over a year since I’ve graduated, and I was so naive to have thought that life would suddenly make sense once I got my degree. Yes, I am grateful to be where I am today, but I still feel lost about where I’m going tomorrow.
I might be feeling this way for a long time… and I’ve come to realize that it’s OK. Here are some words of wisdom that I’ve collected in my own journey of trying to make sense of my life and career.
Your degree does not define you.
You can graduate with a Finance or Engineering degree today, and be a Sales Manager or Software Developer in 10 years. You’d be surprised how many people pivot in their career paths into completely different fields of interests. These people are fine, even better off than they were before… so don’t worry if you wish you could’ve done something else (because you can).
Your mindset is everything.
Whether you think you can, or cannot, you’re right.
Henry ford
Whatever goal or dream you have, all you need is sheer determination and a positive attitude. The rest will come with time and effort.
You don’t need to have it all figured out right now.
Trust me. I’ve spoken to hundreds of people about their career paths… Many of them have decades of experience and still say they don’t know what the end goal is. But it’s OK… you just need to do what’s right for you, right now. Things will change tomorrow, just roll with it.
Be open to new opportunities.
Sometimes, the unexpected will pop up in your life. It could be that your partner needs to move to another country for their job, or that your friend has just launched a startup. Keep your eyes open for ways to get involved, try new things, and experience new adventures. You never know where saying “yes” will take you!
It’s okay not to be okay.
As you’ve probably experienced in the past year alone, life is a rollercoaster of events and emotions. The most important thing is to find a support network of people who can celebrate the highs with you and be there for your lows. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a break and disconnect from what you’re doing. Come back to it later, it will still be there. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or talk to others about your problems. On the same note, look out for others and be there for them when they need it.
Quote of the Day
Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are in today.
manjit minhas
Thanks for following my #100DayChallenge series… The goal is to blog everyday for 100 days in a row. Through this series, I hope to share more about my personal life to complement the career content that I usually create.