Last week, the Career Development Office hosted a Graduate & Professional School Fair. We had over 30 different programs represented; it was a beautiful day and great event. However, as students stood at the entrance of the JRC 101, I heard something that frightened me, “I’m only a third year student, can I still go look around?”In my mind, I thought, only a third year?! You’re on the cusp of graduation. Thus, my response was, “YES!” While there is nothing wrong with the question being asked, in that one question is an assumption that thinking about what you do after Grinnell should only start your senior year. Let me dispel that assumption!
Deciding to attend Grinnell College is your first career decision; then, what you do, learn, and reflect upon while at Grinnell are also steps within your career. You may not think of it like that, but a career is not a job and a job is not a career. A career is a culmination of your passions, strengths, and abilities. For example, maybe you want to make a career out of teaching or the arts or financial consulting. So, ask yourself, while at Grinnell, what are you doing to help yourself build your career? Are you involved in student organizations and making the most out of those experiences? Are you seeking information wherever available (e.g., strolling through the Grad Fair, attending event lectures, participating in class, taking advantage of the CDO and Academic Advising workshops, or simply asking questions to mentors and guests)? Are you taking time to reflect on your patterns, noticing what kinds of positions you gravitate toward and what skills and abilities you do and do not have?
In life, there are two kinds of people: those who survive and those who thrive. Laurie A. Schreiner (2010) discusses characteristics of thriving:
[Those who thrive] can be characterized as proactive and problem-focused, rather than reactive and avoidant. [They] take the initiative—they seek out information, take steps to ensure their success, reframe negative events so they see others’ perspectives or can find something to be learned from the experience, use humor effectively to cope, and are quick to accept the reality of their situation…[thus] they experience more positive emotions and a higher level of satisfaction with their lives—as well as greater levels of success. (p. 6)
In other words, those who thrive don’t necessarily have “it” all figured out. However, those who thrive do have an attitude of learning and initiative that they take with them daily. They see how information from various contexts and disciplines naturally integrate together and hold some purpose for them (sounds a lot like the purpose of a liberal arts education, huh?). You integrate knowledge in the classroom, so I implore you to do the same outside it as well. You will never hear me say that there is only one “right” way to go through life; each person has a unique style as to how they make choices that fit with their values. But, attitude does go a long way. So, whether you’re a first or a third year, when you pass by an opportunity to learn more about your own career development, ask yourself, are you a thriving or merely surviving?
Schreiner, L.A. (2010). The “Thriving Quotient”: A new vision for student success. About Campus, 15(2) 2-10.
