It’s a lot. Balancing the last four years of college with multiple part-time jobs, internships, and leadership opportunities through my campus organizations have been overwhelming, to say the least. It has been a lot of long nights, early mornings, and exhausting days on my feet. I am constantly thinking about what my past decisions were, how I learned from them, and what my next move needs to be. Driven and self-motivated to succeed, it’s hard to see the big picture when my focus has been on the little steps to get there.
I mention this because I am in the final month of undergrad, the home stretch. While many opportunities to interview come in, and I get excited about the possibilities of the ideal job offer, it’s hard not be caught up in the hustle and bustle of the constant changes in life. This has left me unsatisfied and even a little worried about how my impending graduation and inevitable thrust into the real world. Will I find a job that makes me happy? Will I like the people I work with? Will I still have time to connect with friends? Even the mere thought of me not achieving my goals can be intimidating. The pandemic has not exacerbated these worries, it has only led to more uncertainty and difficulty finding my “dream job.”
It’s hard not to be upset to see what I haven’t accomplished. But I am starting to realize that even if not everything on my checklist has been completed, I still accomplished so much and grew a lot along the way. There has still been achievements, accolades, and experience gained from all the different opportunities I have had, as well as so much more that will help me in the future.
Taking a step back, looking at the big picture, I have gained knowledge, lived experience, and skills that may not be measurable in terms of money or success, yet, but the fruits of my labor will show with time.
Andrew O'Connell 