YouAlberta
As I wrap up my third year at the U of A in the confines of Rutherford South, working on my last YouAlberta story for the year, I cannot help but begin to feel anxious about what exactly the future holds for me. While I have completed countless assignments and finals up to this point, I face a new challenge that is quite simply put: for the first time in my life, I do not have any plan for what exactly I want to do after graduation.
The past year has made me realize that I do not want to be an engineer after graduation, and the thought of stepping outside of university without a roadmap is quite scary. This is certainly not a unique experience. About two in 5 University students regret their choice of major, and about 60% of all students have some form of anxiety about what they want to do after graduation.
Going into university, I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do in life and was adamant about it. But the 17-year-old me did not account for one key thing – that both plans and situations can change in the blink of an eye. The pressure to have a plan is always there for me. I always thought that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer when I graduated from university.
Looking around me, it appears that everyone has it all figured out, with students having completed their co-op terms and career paths mapped.
Meanwhile, I find myself facing total uncertainty, unsure of what path I want to take or exactly which field completely aligns with my passion.
My biggest source of anxiety comes from the fear of making the wrong choice. With so many options available, each one leading me to completely different paths, the fear of choosing the wrong path terrifies me.
Adding to the pressure is the natural comparison with other students at the U of A. It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring your progress with those around you, especially with the presence of things like LinkedIn, where it feels like every single person is building the next Amazon. Seeing fellow students land internships amplifies my insecurities because I do not even know what career I want to pursue after university.
Last but not least is the pressure to live up to both external and internal expectations. Being an international student, I have a lot invested at the U of A and want to succeed academically and live up to the expectations of both my family and myself. There is always an overwhelming sense of pressure to be successful and achieve certain goals by a certain age. The fear of disappointing those around me weighs heavily on my shoulders, making it difficult for me to carve my path out to pursue what truly matters the most to me.
Despite the overwhelming anxiety and uncertainty, It is important to remind ourselves that it is completely normal not to have it all figured out. It is okay to feel lost and unsure of what tomorrow holds in store for you. It is a natural path of the journey towards self-discovery and personal growth. Rather than fall due to the pressure to have a perfect airtight plan, I am slowly learning to experiment and explore all sorts of things.
Instead of viewing indecision as a weakness, it is important to reframe it as an opportunity to help find yourself and do things that you would not normally do. With this mindset, I joined the UASU events team. Refereeing more than 15 games during the annual dodgeball Campus Cup were my favourite moments of the year, and not something I normally would have done. It is important to take time to explore different interests and engage in experiences that take you out of your comfort zone. By allowing myself the freedom to explore without the pressure of having all the answers, I am allowing myself to see a whole new world of possibilities and discover new passions along the way.
I am also learning how to seek support from those around me. Whether it's talking to friends, family or my mentor, having a support system in place provides me with outside perspectives and guidance during these weird times. Sharing my concerns with others also reminds me that I am not alone in this journey and that there are people who care about my well-being.
Furthermore, I am recognizing the importance of self-care and being balanced in my academic pursuits, to both figure things out and prevent myself from experiencing another burnout. If you are ever feeling completely lost as to what to do, simply go outside for a short walk without your phone. This simple exercise helped me gain a lot of perspective into the fact that everything is going to be okay, along with appreciating everything that I have. Prioritizing my own mental and emotional well-being is crucial to helping me navigate the challenges of not having things figured out. By taking care of myself, it is easier to calmly face whatever lies ahead of me.
As I continue on my journey into the last year of my undergraduate degree, I am learning to embrace the uncertainty of the future with a sense of hope and resilience. While the road ahead is certainly going to be filled with twists and turns, I trust that each step forward will help me find something that I am truly passionate about. Amid the uncertainty, I find comfort in knowing that the journey itself is where the true magic lies and your true passion is often found in the most unexpected of places.