Written for Women Who Design‘s monthly assignment, this letter is dedicated the 20-year Jailyn, who thought she was “behind” after changing majors in her junior year. Now, she is a 22-year old college graduate with an amazing PR internship, part-time job all while contemplating entrepreneurship and a big relocation. At this point, she knows more about her life and self, but still have areas that need improvement and patience
Dear 20-year-old Jailyn,
Fresh from summer vacation, you are ready to start a new semester after changing your minor (Advertising and Public Relations) to your major and vice versa for major (Statistics). But before feeling completely excited and ready to take it on, you feel nervous, anxious, and unprepared. The nervous feeling comes from not knowing if you are good at this field. You’ve always enjoyed communications/PR jobs shown in movies and television shows, such as The Devil Wears Prada.
The anxiousness comes from wanting to know how exactly these classes will go – easy, hard, or more challenging than you could ever imagine. Lastly, you feel unprepared because you are two, TWO, years behind in coursework compared to your peers who entered college the same semester/year as you.
*Breathe in, breathe out*
While this might seem overwhelming now, I promise you everything WILL work out. What’s for you will not pass you – I want you to think like that for now on. Everything, like changing majors, happens for a reason. So before you start classes, interact with your peers and professors, join organizations and attend networking events, I want you to embrace and take on the things that scare you most, that get you out of your comfort zone – regardless if you think you will succeed or fail. Even if you fail, it is a learning experience and a way to make sure you learn from it to succeed.
Take this portion of your life as a time to physically, mentally, socially and professionally grow. Take every opportunity given, within in reason, to further enhance your life post-college. Don’t think about how others might feel, say, or act around. Be considerate, but also do what’s best for you!
Four Ways to Prepare
Pray
This is always, ALWAYS work. It keeps you calm/stops worrying and
Plan + Strategize
Research, set goals, make lists specific and in SMART fashion (pro/con, to-do, checklists) and EXCEED EXPECTATIONS.
Execute
Show up, be present, consistent, effective and ever-working towards your dreams/goals.
Evaluate
How did you do? Could you have done more? How? Why? Keep improving and getting better to fit your standards and no one else’s.
Lastly…
ENJOY your life and relationships. Life is too short to be stressed, depressed and all bent out of shape. YOU GOT THIS!
Love,
Jailyn
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