ANXIETY ASSOCIATED WITH CAREER CHOICES

As the school year comes to a close, and graduation nears us, this can be a stressful time for those that are parting ways with UCSC to start their next chapter. Choosing a career is hard and finding a job has become increasingly more difficult over the years. It can be easy to get overwhelmed in the whirlwind of moving forward, and our peer educator, Ishani, agrees. In this post, Ishani talks about her own anxiety around career choices and how to reframe them for the better.

Anxiety Associated With Career Choices

By Ishani Deshpande

As a sophomore in college, it has definitely been hitting me that I need to prepare for my future. As a pre-med student, there is nothing more I want than to make it to medical school. Everyone knows that medical school admissions are not a walk in the park. Taking the necessary pre-requisite courses, achieving a solid GPA and MCAT score, having loads of volunteering experience, getting involved in research, and writing a stellar personal statement are some of the many things a pre-med student has to consider as they go through their undergraduate years. Many times, I assure myself that I can do it. After all, I am a hardworking, dedicated student. Other times, however, I doubt myself. And lately, I have been feeling lots of self-doubt; I have also been feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. And I know I am not the only one; many of my pre-med friends feel the same way. There’s so much uncertainty and pressure before, during, and even after medical school. It can be a little nerve-wracking to think about sometimes. It’s okay to admit and acknowledge that.

Personally, I’ve decided to take a step back; I’ve decided to focus on the present. I love what I’m doing right now in college. I love my major (molecular, cellular, and developmental biology), and I have been loving my academic college experience. I love my extracurriculars, and I’m always open to trying new activities and experiences. That’s all I can really do right now. Of course, I’m still going to be thinking about the ten other things I have to get done before I graduate in the back of my mind. But if it’s making me anxious, I need to take everything one step at a time. I’ve also been getting help; it has made me realize that there are so many resources out there. I talked to the pre-health coach the other day, I attended a pre-health conference at UC Davis a few weeks back, and I’m trying to talk to students who have already gone through this process. Many of us can feel shy or inferior when asking for help, but trust me, we all need a little guidance sometimes.

I’ve realized, whether you’re pre-med or pre-law or just preparing for graduate school, the best thing you can do is work hard and embrace opportunities that come your way. It’s wonderful that we’re thinking about our futures, but if your thoughts are hurting your life in the present, it’s definitely worth talking to someone about it, whether that’s an advisor, professor, friend, or family member. College is a journey, and making career choices is just another part of that journey!