You have just arrived on campus and already there are a million things calling your attention. Your mind is split yet you see your peers somehow become CEOs while you’re in a corner crippled by indecision and eating the free ice cream sample you got from Mem U. The last sentence might have been a bit of a hyperbole, but it’s true – Freshman year can be extremely overwhelming, yet people are still making moves. Now, learning and the college experience is a big part of why you’re there in the first place. However, progressing professionally IS important too. As a rising senior, the lessons I learned to professional success are that you must show up, explore, and welcome feedback.
All you have to do is show up and start. That’s it. Your ability to progress in any aspect of your life depends on if you’re there to push it in the first place no matter how small the steps. Hold yourself accountable and keep showing up more times than not. Give yourself grace when needed, but never as an excuse.
That advice includes going out to events, clubs, seminars, meet ups, etc. It also ties into the second piece of advice which is to explore. Put yourself out there. It’s cliche and it works. Talk to people for all types of relationships whether personal or professional and explore what’s around. You never know what those will turn into.
Most importantly, welcome feedback. Feedback is necessary to grow. Even though it might be hard to separate relevant feedback from the noise, learn to welcome it.
(photo caption) Photo Taken by Keira Burton: Two College Students Laughing and Studying