A personal friend and public relations mentor once told me that it is important to enjoy the journey. I did not fully understand what he meant until I entered the workforce.
As a recent graduate (May 2016), riding the high of seniority and a new city full of possibilities, my optimism was high. I had all of these opportunities for the taking, and I was confident. Unfortunately, after wading through applications, submitting my polished resume and linking my recently-presented online portfolio, my growing stack of new bills slapped me with a harsh reality.
For most of us, our first job out of college is not the dream job. You take the best you are offered for the experience and to pay your new apartment’s rent. There are now utilities, paid time off and health insurance to think about.
Even though no one wants to admit it, this phase is hard. Everyone seems to have it all figured out, posting pictures with new work friends at luncheons and commenting on LinkedIn articles as if they gained three years of experience in three months. It can make you question why you are not as confident in your career or why you did not “find your passion” on the first try.
What is even harder to recognize is that most are completely faking it. There is still an unspoken pressure to be a “cool kid,” even though you never have to set foot in a school again. This can lead to you feeling even worse about where you are in your career. However, your job is not something you can quickly change like a haircut or a pair of jeans.
Just because you are not exactly where you want to be does not mean there is anything wrong with where you are. There is purpose in each step. Jobs are mundane and repetitive most of the time, but that is where the passion is found. When you love something enough to live it on the unimpressive days, you know you are moving in the right direction.
You will be tired. Some days you will not see the passion in it. You will not want to post it on Instagram. You will wish you could hit snooze and use a chapel skip. Do not be discouraged.
Written by Toria Law
