The Glamour magazine event, “The Top Ten Secrets to Success for TwentySomethings” that took place at Barnard College on Wednesday, September 7th featured five compelling panelists who shared helpful tips on how to be young and successful. Let’s learn from these marvelous women who have conquered fears, obstacles and now are at the top of their industries! Below are the women profiled and some of their wise words.
Taraji Henson, a current Hollywood film actress, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2008 for her role as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. She shared a story with audience members about her rejection from her first two top colleges, which led her to apply to Howard University. She excelled in theatre and the arts in college and discovered her passion for acting.
Jodi Kantor, a reporter at the New York Times, dropped out of Harvard Law after her first semester to work for the start-up website, Slate.com. In a funny anecdote, she told the audience that though her parents wanted to “kill her” at the time, dropping out of Harvard was the best decision she ever made. At age twenty-seven, she became the youngest editor ever of the Arts & Leisure section of the New York Times.
Meghan McCain is a writer for the weekly column for The Daily Beast, author of the popular website, McCainbloggette.com, has written the NY Times best selling book, “My Father: John McCain” and also “Dirty Sexy Politics”. Meghan graduated Columbia University in 2007. She has also left her mark on American politics for boldly defying her father Senator John McCain’s position on the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.
Danica Patrick, the renowned American auto-car racing driver, claims that being independent and having faith in yourself are the only things you need to succeed. She left her family and friends behind at the age of sixteen to train in England, fully committed to the racing world. Although she never attended college, she believes she created her own “college experience” by learning to overcome many challenges she faced as a female race-car driver in a male-dominated field.
Danielle Evans is author of Before Your Suffocate Your Own Fool Self which won the 2011 Paterson Prize for Fiction among other accolades. She graduate of Columbia University and now teaches literature and creative writing at American University in Washington, D.C. Danielle promoted the notion of “me” time, and implored everyone to put aside time for themselves to stay sane and focus on what is important.
Here are some unconventional pieces of advice that these estimable women discussed:
The dropout that can lead to your career.
Who said Harvard Law is for everyone? Sometimes dropping out of even the most prestigious schools and programs can help you advance your career. And even if you didn’t get into your first choice college or graduate program, it’s okay. When we’re young, rejection is something we are not prepared to digest. However, once you become focused and study what you love doing, you will succeed. Sometimes it’s the failure at something that can lead to your success.
Take advantage of our youth.
We have no real financial burdens and so we must take full advantage of that. There’s no mortgage, no health insurance and car that we have to finance. If it’s bartending and taking that amazing internship which will get you the most experience, go for it. Don’t worry about money for now.
“If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”
Are you ready? Don’t sit in a place of “I can’t” because fear can debilitate you. Expect that when you take a risk, it’s all going to go wrong. You have to think, what is the worst that can happen? Is it going to kill me? Am I going to be able to get back up? You have to be willing, even if it is three or four more times. Find what you’re good at and stick with it. Build your life around something that you love doing. Don’t give up. Once you can answer all of that, your fear is gone and you can jump in feet first.
No drunk tweeting!
Be careful what you put on the Internet, whether it’s blogging, tweeting or writing on Facebook. You can inhibit your chances at success because when you apply for a job people will look at your social networking profiles. We live in a dangerous era, and it will haunt your future in any career that you pursue.
Intern, Intern, Intern
Intern as much as you possible can because you will get to see what it really takes to get to the top. Everyone needs to pay his or her dues even if you think you’re unsuited for the job. The experience will be worth it in end.
The good things that come with being a girl.
“It doesn’t matter what being a girl means or doesn’t mean.” You need to learn to be the best and the fastest at what you are doing. Don’t think about how you are different. And sometimes the disadvantages are the advantages. When you perform, you’re watched just a little bit closer. When you don’t perform, people see that too. You’ve got to use everything you’ve got. Women think, “Why me?” but men think, “Why not me?” It’s important for women to see themselves as leaders.
Glass half full.
There are no “safe” careers paths anymore. It’s a terrible market for doctors. It’s a terrible market for lawyers. It’s a terrible market for everyone now. What you think is safe may not necessarily be safe. Believe in the value of what you personally love and find interesting and pursue that.
We certainly learned a lot from what these women had to say, and hope that you will too. How lucky are we that we got to hear them speak on our own campus!