Navigating the Crossroads of Life: Embracing Change and Building Your Path to Greatness
Greetings! My name is Dan Thomas, and I am a board member of Leaders of Today Central Ohio. I have had the pleasure of having nearly twenty years of service working in higher education, supporting and offering youth from vulnerable communities the opportunity to further their education and ultimately change their family's economic status. During this time, I have witnessed a variety of emotions that a recent high school graduate can experience months after completing one of the most significant accomplishments of their life to date. One can feel accomplished as they enter the workforce and prepare to become fully self-sufficient. I often hear the feeling of patriotism from students as they embark on enlisting and serving our country as military members. Some can feel eager or intimidated as they venture off to college, preparing to make a new name among peers and professionals they never engaged before. Others may feel relieved or rejuvenated as they take a break from academics and work to discover what is next for them in life. Regardless of the emotions you are experiencing or the next step in your path, your feelings and next steps are valid and should be unique to you. No one can concretely tell you how you should feel or what next steps are best for you. Investing in yourself, self-reflecting, identifying your value system, and exploring your career options is vital. Once you have identified your career options, you can build a roadmap to meet your personal and career goals. Regardless of your future plans at this crossroads of your life, here are some gems that may help make this transition more palatable and less stressful.
Know you, Be you, Be GREAT! Once you have a firm understanding of your strengths, value system, and interests, fully accept the identities that you hold. Do not diminish any of these qualities to comfort those around you. Prioritize yourself while ensuring you are always presenting your best version.
Live and Learn! Be open to new experiences as you embark on this newfound freedom. By doing so, you may find new interests, hobbies, and friends that will continue to help you grow. You may also begin to question ideals and beliefs that you have previously held. Take reasonable risks; do not view failure as losses; consider them learning experiences. Be sure to have fun and enjoy life.
Invest in Healthy Relationships! Remember all the cliché sayings "It's not what you know but who you know." and "You are the company you keep.". These often shared words of advice are most important during this stage in your life. Connect yourself with individuals who share lofty goals and desire to improve themselves while impacting the community. You will benefit significantly by expanding your social capital.
Have a plan. Once you have identified what's next or what you want to achieve, establish goals and objectives to reach them. Start by thinking BIG. Then create smaller, incremental goals that will lead to accomplishing your ultimate goals.
It's Okay to Say No! There are only so many minutes, hours, and days in a week. You cannot present the best version of yourself if you are spread too thin trying to do everything for everybody. Be conscious of your physical and mental well-being and prioritize what matters to you most.
Go out and "Be You and Be Great"!
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