It’s crazy how time flies when you’re in college. One day, you’re a freshmen, just trying to figure out where the dining hall is. Next thing you know, you’re a sophomore, trying to build your resume in hopes of someday getting a job. As a Film and Television student, the deeper I get into my major classes, the more I ask myself:
Is this really what I want to do with my life?
Can I handle the stress of this industry?
Am I good enough?
If you ask yourself these same questions, then you might find this helpful. If not, then this is just a letter to my insecure and anxiety-filled self.
Because it can be so easy to get caught up in the “I need to get this job in the future, or my life has no meaning” mindset, here is just a few tips on how to stay positive, and deal with the stress of building your resume and finding a job. They might also alleviate the “What Am I Doing With My Life” blues.
1. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
How do I put this lightly? YOU ARE YOU, AND THERE’S NO OTHER YOU IN THE WORLD! Life isn’t a competition. Everyone has their own strengths, weaknesses, and completely different backgrounds. The only person you should be competing with is yourself. Your main goal is to try to be a better person than you were the day before. I don’t care if that kid next to you landed an amazing internship, or got to spend their entire summer in Europe. Good for them! Celebrate their victory because their accomplishment ISN’T your failure! Focus on your life, and not somebody else’s.
Channel your jealousy into something more positive. Befriend the people you’re envious of, instead of just rolling your eyes every time they speak. You could be missing out on a life-long friendship with a really cool person. It’s always better to have friends than enemies.
2. Take It One Day At A Time
You’re not going to achieve all of your goals in one night. You probably won’t even accomplish it all of them in 5 years! Life has a way of surprising us. You might not end up doing the things you thought you were going to do. There’s no point in planning your entire future, you’ll just end up disappointed. Focus on making the most out of today.
In the meantime, take advantage of the opportunities in front of you that could expand your knowledge, no matter how insignificant or irrelevant they seem now. It’s okay to be the unpaid intern every once in a while, it will make you a better boss in the future.
3. Don’t Lose Sight Of Your Original Intentions
When you start taking your major-related classes, what once was your hobby becomes a job. Your professors are going to expect you to do something over and over again, until it’s perfect. They might even tell you to change your initial idea because they don’t see it the way you do. They’re going to expect a lot from you, which can be quite overwhelming.
The moment your hobby becomes your career is the moment you question your life choices. It takes the fun out of what you love so much, and makes you contemplate whether or not you’re good at it in the first place. You can’t let this deter you from your passion.
Start creating artwork that is unrelated to school, just for you. Not having to deal with the pressure of doing it perfectly will remind you of why you enjoy doing it. It will also get your creative juices flowing, which is never a bad thing.
4. “Success” Doesn’t Mean Fame and Wealth
One of my professors once said “Winning an Oscar… that’s what you should strive for.” While that would be amazing, NOT winning one doesn’t immediately imply that you aren’t talented. If your main goal in life is to win a gold-plated piece of tin, your priorities are completely in the wrong place.
The definition of success is doing what makes you happy, and surrounding yourself with people that support you every step of the way. No large amount of money or fame is going to make you happy. Those things are overrated, and you’re better than that.
5. Don’t Take Your Accomplishments For Granted
I really need to take my own advice on this one. I could reach the summit of Mt. Everest, and still say “Meh, not good enough.”
I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with pushing yourself to do better, but don’t be mean to yourself! You’re only human, for goodness sake! If you continue bashing yourself for not doing enough, you’re never going to be happy with what you HAVE done. I’m sure if you really thought about it, you could come up with a list of awesome things you’ve done in your life.
Every accomplishment counts, no matter how small.
6. There’s More To Life Than Getting A “Job”
This might sound crazy, but hear me out. In this day and age, there’s so much pressure to get a job straight out of college. It makes sense; college is expensive. How else are we going to pay it off? But think about this: there’s a chance you won’t get a job right away. Or maybe you will, but it’s not what you expect it to be.
You have your whole life to work, so there’s no need to rush. Maybe you’ll end up spending a couple of months in another country, or getting an internship when school ends. They’re all just experiences that will help you grow as a person, and that you can add to your resume.
Life is about constantly exploring, learning, and having unique experiences. You have the chance to do so many different things in your lifetime, so don’t limit yourself.
With that being said, give yourself a round of applause. Not only did you make it through this article, but you’re AMAZING because you’re YOU. Never forget that.