Nine to Thrive.

I Didn’t Wait for the Tassel to Turn

One thing about college is that it’s full of amazing, fun experiences. I made sure to enjoy them all, lol. Then the pandemic hit at the end of my sophomore year. I was forced to go online and isolate. Surprisingly, it ended up being a huge wake-up call. I started thinking about what the heck I was going to do with my life.

As campus opened back up and life started returning to normal, I watched my older friends graduate and move on. But instead of letting them become background noise, I paid attention to what became of their lives. It was literally The Game of Life. Some started families, some started businesses, and some were still figuring out the right jobs. Sitting through my Introduction to Marketing Principles class, I realized… I wanted to choose a career path in The Game of Life.

So, I made it a point to start exploring that path before I turned the tassel. And thank goodness I did; I have no regrets! Of course, everyone’s college experience is different, but from one graduate to another, I’d like to share my advice on how to get a jumpstart on your career.

The First Half: Explore and Enjoy

Club-Hopping & Coffee-Fueled Adventures

Freshman and sophomore years are like the appetizer of college life. Try EVERYTHING, even if some bites look weird. I cannot emphasize enough how important joining clubs and making friends is because you never know who is going to be your best friend, your boss, or even your employee. Focus on low-pressure explorations like clubs, classes, volunteering, and side projects. Go to that party… I mean networking event!

And yes, it’s okay to change your major. I changed mine three times! These first few years are all about taking a variety of classes to see what sparks your curiosity. Even if you start college knowing exactly what you want to do, it never hurts to explore.

Last Half: Get Intentional

Hustle With a Side of Netflix

By junior and senior year, it’s time to trade some FOMO for focus. Start getting serious within your major and attend career fairs. Look online for internships and networking events. Experiencing the real world early is important; companies rarely hire without experience, and sometimes, just having a degree isn’t enough. Your resume is basically your adult report card, so start showing up for class and start showing up for yourself.

Based on my experience, I found it very helpful to focus intentionally on my career in the last two years of college. Of course, all while having fun and binging Breaking Bad. Just because you’re getting serious about your career doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying college.

(If you’re a business major like I was, the American Marketing Association has amazing networking opportunities.)

Key Lessons / Advice

Lessons I Learned Outside the Lecture Hall

When I was a junior, I applied for a position on the Panhellenic Greek Exec board. I served as the VP of Member Development and Marketing for a year. Then, I used that experience to land an internship. I was a creative writer for a year, then a marketing assistant for another. As I gained experience, I kept stepping up the ladder. I landed a marketing coordinator job before I graduated, and now, I’m a marketing manager moving up the rankings.

My advice: don’t wait for the diploma to start proving you’re awesome! College is where you learn who you are and what you want to do. It gives you the tools to make educated decisions that will lead to your success. I’m a big believer in starting early, but the key is to just start no matter where you are.

And don’t be afraid of failure because success is not linear. Maybe you can’t land a job, or you still have no idea what you want to do even after you graduate… that’s okay! Not everything works out. That’s why flexibility is important and why I’m writing this post: to encourage young adults to start early… but also to start at all.

Your Future Self Will Thank You.

If you choose the career path in The Game of Life, start now. Even if it’s messy, even if it’s awkward, even if you think it’s too late, even if your coffee budget doubles – it’s worth it.

Looking back, I’m so thankful I didn’t wait for the tassel to turn to start my career. I took the initiative to figure out what I actually loved. I doubted myself, failed exams, had anxiety, and switched my major three times. But in the end, I found my passion, acted on it, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

To future college students: I hope my advice helps, no matter what industry you end up in. Whether you start your career path in freshman year, senior year, or even after graduation, the important part is taking those first steps and discovering what you truly love.

Until next time,

Callie