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There is a copious amount of adjectives I could use to describe how it feels to navigate through your 20s.  To avoid generalizing, I will primarily speak to my own experiences, challenges, and personal viewpoints regarding my 20-something roller coaster ride.  Although I’m still in my early 20s, I hope some of my experiences and insight can serve as a supportive and encouraging guide for preserving your energy, passion, and appetite for climbing your ladder of professional success, self-fulfillment, and happiness.  Although that last sentence makes me seem much wiser than I am, I know for me personally, reading the advice, experiences and stories of others helps remind me that I am human and have the potential to do great things - no matter how difficult it may get.  

Entering the blogosphere as a regular writer for a few organizations has allowed me to share some of my personal experiences, obstacles, and insights with others and in return, I have gained a stronger and more diverse perspective on important aspects of life.  We all experience life differently and by writing and sharing our experiences, hurdles, and little victories with others, we can better self-reflect and inform our life decisions.  Which brings me to my current musings on beginning my career as a recent post-grad and the challenges I have faced while trying to sustain my energy, passion, and motivation and avoid burn-out.

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Entering my First Post-Grad Job

Despite working several jobs throughout college to afford living in Boston, paying for school, and saving for post-grad life, I felt like I was taking a big risk and stepping outside my reach to pursue my first job out of college.  My acceptance to a national public service organization was exciting, stressful, nerve-wracking all at the same time.  Finding out that I was placed in rural Arkansas was something I did not foresee, but I followed my heart and my passion and was excited to take a chance.

If you’re taking a risk and uprooting your life to jump-start your career, I highly encourage it.  Life threw so much at me at once and I feel proud, more accomplished, and stronger knowing I tackled and managed many new experiences at once.  Along the way, I made many mistakes, questioned my career choice, and became afraid of moving forward - but those obstacles have made the present day worth it.

Uprooting my life and seizing those challenges and new experiences has made me a more whole and well-rounded person and employee.  I suggest taking a risk and going after something outside your reach - as terrifying and stressful as it may be, you will discover more about yourself, your ambitions, and life than you may have intended.

As a recent college graduate and first-time teacher, I entered the classroom with youthful enthusiasm and bundles of energy.  My students were receptive to my animated personality and our learning experience started on a very positive note.  I brought a lot of energy all at once and although I don’t regret that, I would suggest developing a mindset that allows you to allot that energy more efficiently.  The problem I faced was that I started to feel extremely guilty when I didn’t exert equal amount of energy in everything I did at school.  I pushed myself to bring the same high level of spiritedness in my class, in meetings, while grading, you name it.  Consequently, my poor allocation of energy wore me out and I was feeling drained at the end of each day.  I was absolutely run down and exhausted by 4 PM and it was a challenge to stay awake to finish grading and lesson planning.

You can’t be a productive, helpful, and healthy employee if your energy is being depleted and your well-being is being comprised.

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Getting Burned Out

Too much of anything isn’t necessarily good for you and I certainly learned that the hard way.  After a couple sick days and weekends spent inside, I gained a healthier sense of how to maintain my energy and passion throughout my day.  I started to realize that the less energetic I felt, the less passionate and excited I was about the work I was doing.  My passion for teaching and being a mentor for my kids was suffering because I was getting burned out at 22 years old, after having only taught for a few months.

Moderation is critical.  After I rebooted my battery, I started to focus more on my health, sense of self, and well-being while at my job.  I took several 5-10 minute breaks between grading, lesson planning, agenda scheduling, and meetings.  The benefits of these breaks was remarkable and something I highly recommend in any job you find yourself in.  Don’t be afraid to take a few moments for yourself.  Trust your gut when you are starting to feel worn down, stressed, and fatigued.  I wish I had taken more moments to breath, reflect, and focus on myself throughout my workday rather than plowing through despite my exhaustion.  

I’ve noticed from my experience in the nonprofit sector and now in teaching, that employees often feel guilty or combative to take advantage of opportunities that help restore and relax your self and energy.  Public service and social justice work can be very selfless and altruistic careers but you need to be mindful of taking care of yourself as well.  You can’t be a productive, helpful, and healthy employee if your energy is being depleted and your well-being is being comprised.  I let guilt drive my work-day instead of my happiness and passion and I now know not to allow myself to feel that way again.  My students’ education will suffer more from me not being my best self rather than me not bringing my zany energy into the room - at full-speed, all the time.

Even if you don’t work in public service, it’s important to take care of yourself at work, give yourself breaks, and allow yourself to be who you really are.

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Moving Forward

I have accepted the fact that I can’t let myself feel guilty or distraught over not grading daily activities the night of or being a high-spirited presence for them at every hour of every day.  I am human after all and the more my students have seen that truer side to me, the more they have felt comfortable being themselves too.  I now feel like I have an even healthier and fruitful classroom environment because of the pressure I’ve taken off myself and the authenticity I’ve let seep through.  I let the stresses of my first post-grad job impact my work performance and love for the job and because of that, my students were affected by that.  

Even if you don’t work in public service, it’s important to take care of yourself at work, give yourself breaks, and allow yourself to be who you really are.  Try not to let the pressure you’ve put on yourself fog your career path.  Stay focused on the present but also look towards the future because if you’re too exhausted after your first few jobs after graduation, how will you be able to give it your all when you’re at the top of your ladder?  Don’t burn yourself out too early - you need your bright energy in the years to come. 

 

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