Do you have to choose between enjoying your college years or focusing on a career?
Coming into my junior year this fall after completing an internship at one of the top media companies in Atlanta during the summer, I have never felt more of a need to focus on my career. I have one more year left as a student, which means the pressure is on.
In this generation of social media, I see a lot of people my age that are landing internships and big jobs. This feeds my need to focus all of my energy on my career.
I have noticed that the people I surround myself with are very determined, go-getters who are doing things that are helping them along their career path. They inspire me, but they also contribute to that level of pressure to make sure that I’m doing things that are going to help me with my career.
While I do think it is necessary to enjoy these four years of college, I’m starting to place more importance on my career rather than the next party. In the long run, my career will be what I am basically doing for the rest of my life. However, I think there can be a balance between enjoying life and focusing on my career.
On the other hand, there are students who feel more of a pressure to hang out and enjoy the college life rather than focus on their careers. Dumarkus Davis, a music performance major, feels he should be hanging out more, but a lot of his time is spent on his career.
“I personally feel that focusing on my career, later in life I will be able to enjoy life and not worry about so many other things” Dumarkus said. “I don’t relax and hang out enough, but at the same time, I have extremely big dreams and I know I’ll have to sacrifice and work hard.” Dumarkus is a junior, already owns his own business and is a thriving violinist.
Although I can’t honestly speak on behalf of all college students, I think more want to be focused on the present moment, whether that means going to every party every weekend or attending every campus event. While there’s nothing wrong with that, there should be a need or sense of motivation to get a jump start on their career.
As I previously stated, there has to be some sort of balance. We pay all this money for school to get a degree, so we should be worried about our careers. However, college is supposed to be some of the best years of our lives. Focusing on your career doesn’t mean you have to give up on enjoying the pleasures of life and enjoying the college life doesn’t mean you don’t have to have some sense of determination and drive to build up to your career.
