Refrain from arbitrary social expectations and achieve your goals at your own pace.
Obtaining a degree, finding a well-paying job and starting a family are just a few social expectations everyone faces.
Though well-intentioned, those expectations can ultimately limit a person’s full potential.
The normal, safe route perpetuated by parents and authority figures is: Go to high school, go to college and get a job.
But what if you want to start your career now?
While many people disregard their own interests to fit into a socially accepted mold, anthropology sophomore Alexis ‘Lexi’ Roberts demonstrates how people can transcend the mold.
She pursued a discipline she was interested in and engaged professionals within the field to gain experience.
Instead of pursuing a planned path of teaching, one psychology course made her change her mind. Real world experience in a discipline is invaluable compared to a simple degree.
To obtain a dream job within America’s competitive job market, a person must expect to have some kind of experience to show for it.
Roberts did just that; she has already traveled to Iceland to study the Icelandic language, interned as an educator at the San Antonio Museum of Art and volunteered at the Gault School of Archaeological Research at Texas State University documenting and sorting Paleo-Indian lithic artifacts more than 10,000 years old.
That’s an enviable résumé for a 19-year-old.
Students should pursue every internship opportunity available to acclimate to the professional environment of their interests.
If an internship is not applicable, students should widen their searches and consider unpaid volunteer opportunities if they can afford it and it provides substantial experience.
Mentors can help students orient themselves within a field of study and figure out what the best route to take is, in addition to offering a wealth of contacts and connections.
There are no limits to what a person who stays focused can accomplish.
Established professionals are typically willing to help out potential employees.
Ask questions and seek out people with similar interests to realize your potential.
Start working toward your career today.
