My New Normal
Recently, I said goodbye to a significant aspect of my life that I truly loved. Being a student-athlete has been the most rewarding and challenging experience thus far. I embraced the opportunity to represent the schools I attended through cross country and track and field. However, my representation of the school extended beyond sports. I am particularly proud of my involvement in academics, my role as a member of the BIG10 Equality Coalition, and serving as a Diversity and Inclusion executive board member for the student-athlete advisory committee. The friendships I have formed, the mentors who have pushed me, and even the setbacks have all contributed to shaping the person I am today, and I am immensely grateful for every experience.
Now, I find myself embarking on a new phase in my life, and I must admit that I feel a sense of uncertainty. I question every action and word I take. In the realm of education, we often have a clear path laid out for us, knowing the next steps for several years in advance. It's like you’re in cruise control... until you're not, and suddenly, the comfort of knowing what lies ahead for you dissipates entirely Don't get me wrong—I am genuinely excited to apply my education to the real world and make a difference, especially as the advertising space needs more Muslim women's voices. However, entering the professional realm as a learner is somewhat daunting.
This marks my second experience in an advertising agency, and I have placed unrealistic pressure and expectations on myself, to say the least. For some reason, I held the notion that since I am a college graduate and have prior exposure to an ad agency environment, I should have most things figured out by now. I caught myself saying, "I just want to know what I'm doing" and "I can't wait until I'm 2-3 years into my career, where I have a solid foundation." In this crucial period of learning, I have been rushing my own development. It took a moment of stress for me to step back and remind myself that I am not supposed to have all the answers. I seemed to have forgotten the process of my own growth in a learning environment, despite having experienced it my entire life. While it may look different at this stage, it is a reminder to be patient with myself.
I observe physicians continuously refreshing their knowledge in medicine, technology, and patient care, and I believe this applies to other professions as well. This new phase as a professional undoubtedly brings discomfort as I strive to understand how I learn best in this setting. Nevertheless, the prospect of personal growth excites me. Instead of saying, "I just want to know," I am reframing it as "I look forward to advancing in my professional career." Plateauing only occurs when learning stops, and I strive to keep growing not only as a professional but also as a friend and family member. So for right now, I am setting new short-term goals and trusting the process to eventually define my long-term objectives. I make a promise to my future self: to never cease learning from those around me, regardless of my career stage, and to consistently invest time in developing and refreshing my skills.