I think it is important to realize that college prepares you for the field you choose and gives you a great educational base in that area of expertise. But, it does not prepare you for life lol nothing does. Life is the most chaotic, random but beautiful thing ever. Your life and what is happening in it will alter your experience in your industry and vice versa. Here are some lessons that I have learned in my first year and a half out of college that I think everyone can benefit from.
1. Nothing goes even remotely close to plan. You come out of college super ambitious and everyone does a great job of making everything seem like it'll be all rainbows and gumdrops when you graduate. Let me be the first to tell you, that will not be the case and life does a pretty good job of slapping you in the face with a reality check real quick. Chances are you are not going to graduate college and have a 6 figure job waiting for you, and that's okay. You may not be married by 25 like you planned and that's okay. You may not be able to afford to do much because student loans suck up every ounce of extra cash you have. There will be curveballs thrown at you and sometimes you will feel like you don't know how anything could get any worse but it is important to realize that everything, the good and the bad is all helping you create your own story that will hopefully turn out better than the one you envisioned. 2. Don't chase a career, chase a passion. This is something I think is so so so important! As I entered the workforce I realized real quick that there are a lot of people who have just been in their jobs for so long because it is comfortable and dependable and guess what, they are freakin miserable. When you ask them the question "if you could do any job in the world, what would it be?" they answer with something that is so far from the job that they are doing currently and their faces light up just talking to you about it. It is their true passion. The only reason they don't pursue it is because of fear but you seriously can't avoid things because you are scared. I moved 12 hours away from everyone I know. Was I scared? a little but it was hands down one of the best decisions I have ever made. Some of the best things in life are on the other side of fear. This may sound harsh but those conversations that I have had with coworkers right there happened to me enough times to realize that I never want to turn out like them. I never want to be stuck in a job because its comfortable and dependable because I have experience in doing that and it SUCKSS. Trust me a job is not worth trading your sanity or happiness. If you are miserable, quit. If that feels to drastic for you then start taking minor steps on the side and set up something for when you leave your other job. If you are miserable and feel stuck, it is your job to change that. 3. It's okay to not have it all together all of the time. I think now more than ever we feel this immense pressure to look like we have it together all of the time especially with social media rubbing everyone's achievements and happiness in our faces. We all only show the best parts of our lives out of fear of what people might think. Guess what? people care more about you being authentic, genuine and relatable. The truth is people hurt and you need to allow yourself to feel every emotion in order to heal from whatever you are dealing with. It's okay. Try sharing more authentic pieces of yourself and watch how many lives you touch or how many other people you can relate to. 4. Perspective is beautiful. Life is all about perspective. If you are only paying attention to the "bad" things, you are going to have a really negative outlook on life as a whole. You have to change your perspective. Start looking at everything with a more positive outlook even the "bad" things. For example. if you lose your job, you can either dwell on it or you can look at it as an opportunity to do something new in your life. When you start focusing on more positive aspects of life then life starts to look more beautiful to you. 5.Pace yourself. We all feel so rushed all of the time. You need to be married at this age, you need to have kids before 30, you need to be making 6 figures by 25. Just cut through all of that BS and pace yourself. It's again especially hard when you see your friends hitting certain marks in their life. Instead of look at their achievements with jealousy and poor self reflection, just be happy for them and the way their life is unfolding for them. You are not on some fixed schedule and the universe has its own timing for you so just relax and grab another vodka cranberry and enjoy the ride. 6.Don't take anything for granted. One of the biggest lessons. Life comes at you quick and in a split second everything you know and love can change. Try your hardest to express gratitude to the things and people that matter the most. I have made it a personal goal of mine to make my loved ones know more often how much I love them and am grateful for them because sadly they are not going to be around forever . I have also made it a goal to tell people who have positively impacted my life, just how they did as well as mend old friendships where we grew apart because I miss them and our friendship dearly. Appreciate and express your gratitude and love while you still can. 7. If you have the opportunity to do something new, do it! You are young and I guarantee you that half of the opportunities that present themselves to you now, will never present themselves again. You have the ability to travel to another country? Go. You want to pack up and move across the country? Go. You never want to look back and regret all of the things you chose not to do. 8. You are a product of the people you surround yourself with. It is proven that you pick up characteristics of the people you spend the most time with so make sure that you are surrounding yourself with people that you wouldn't mind being like. 9. No one gives a F*** that you have a degree. Don't be entitled because no one cares that you went to college and have this great degree. Just prove your talent and skill set and that will speak for itself in the workplace. The reality is, it is so competitive out there and you will be replaced at the drop of a hat. 10. Have some fun! Yay! We are here being responsible adults. Grab a drink, pay your bills and do your best to enjoy everything life throws at you. Student loans are a sad fact of life just pay them if you are able. Go out with the girls even on the nights you just want to stay in, I promise you will have a better time than you think. Send your loved ones postcards or letters. Call your grandparents. Travel, even it's just small road trips. Live a little and enjoy the ride! Be kind & Spread love xoxo Alyssa
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