By: Serena Edwards
Everyone’s process is different because everyone’s purpose is different. Some people are called to be doctors, lawyers, social workers, or journalists. Everyone is on a different course of life, and sometimes it may take longer than others. Take that moment as a preparation stage instead of something negative. You never know that the delay in your process can function as a redirection rather than a rejection.
I think of the journey as a marathon rather than a sprint. It takes more than just trying to get it done fast, but accuracy is key. You have to pace yourself and learn to build strength. Sometimes, in the moments where we are waiting to get to the finish line, we should reflect and see the beauty in having more time to grow in that area. Especially within the world we live in today, with competition and such a slim selection of options in the job market, we must stay optimistic and see rejection as realignment.
In today’s society, it feels like we are constantly falling behind. Whether that’s in school, a job, or in materialistic objects. We constantly compare ourselves to those who have gotten it “easier.” But in reality, they have their own journey and battles that they’ve faced to get to where they are. Everyone has a purpose, and comparing yourself to another person when you have two different purposes.
In college, it is expected to graduate in four years; however, for many students, that is not the reality. This expectation alone can cause discouragement and diminish the accomplishments underway. It can even just stop you from appreciating the moments that got you there. The longevity in the matriculation of your college years leads to experiences you would’ve never had and people you would’ve never met if you went at the “normal pace”.
According to NBC News, “fewer than two-thirds of students manage to finish within six years.”
In my own college experience, I took a year off from school after realizing that I mentally wasn’t doing school for myself, and my mental health wasn’t at its best. At the time, I felt like a failure, and compared my matriculation to those I started school with, but looking back, had I not transferred and taken that break, I would not have been able to reach my fullest potential.
Step away from the image of meeting traditional standards of success and start thinking about the importance of non-traditional routines.
I found the beauty in taking the “longer route” because not only am I accomplishing things I never thought I would, but I have gained experiences that I wouldn’t trade for a lifetime. If I had graduated in my expected year, I would have never been able to land a position at this wonderful publication or run the radio station.
Postgraduates are struggling to find stable jobs in the field they studied. Applying to over 100 jobs only to continuously get rejection letters is tiring, discouraging, and overall frustrating. Leading people to feel like they settled for another path just to make ends meet. But what if that other path is preparing you for your ultimate opportunity?
Finding an internship during your matriculation alone is already hard, but it is especially hard after graduating. For example, I want to pursue a career in journalism, so when I worked with kids, I wondered why I was there rather than in the media. But I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I learned the importance of patience and of meeting people where they are. If I hadn’t worked in childcare first, I wouldn’t have developed the skills that helped me become the journalist I am today.
According to Fortune, “From 2023 to 2025 internship postings on the platform declined by more than 15%.”
Networking is important, and in this journey of life, you meet people who will not only teach you but also put you in places and environments you never thought you would be in. If you ever have to change your environment, whether that’s transferring schools or just taking a pause, you must find the silver lining in the ways that these changes work in your favor. If you never transferred or chose the schools that we
Just because you’re in a dark tunnel doesn’t mean there’s not a light at the end. Have peace in the journey, no matter how long or short, you will get to where you are destined to be. People tend to get so immersed in the dark that they don’t see the light slowly starting to shine.
I encourage everyone to look back on their journey and reflect on the flaws they once saw as negative, and to see the silver lining in their imperfect journey.