This week officially marks the end of my first year of going back to college. Back in January, I blogged about my decision to go back to college. This choice wasn’t the easiest to make. My emotions were all over the place, and I feared the unknown probability of becoming successful after starting courses.
First, I recognized and learned more about myself. This year has taught me that I’m too tough on myself. I continually think I am not working or producing enough. When in reality I am handling a full workload with proper planning and scheduling. Needing to juggle work and class life has been difficult; being halfway done with this degree has made it all worth it. With the exception of a couple of classes, I have learned new skills and how to create better content.
This experience has opened my eyes even more to the types of opportunities I should look into for my career field. It is common to find that people automatically assume that graphic design only involves print media. The title of “graphic designer” is a broad term for multiple aspects of digital and print media. This is why job descriptions have to be in-depth to better explain the expectations of the position. For example, graphic designer A may work with web advertisements and video while graphic designer B works more with large publication prints and mailers.
Second, I need to stop sweating the small stuff. Going back to college is like having a second job rather than starting something new to try out. I tend to stress myself out in wanting to be perfect when perfect does not exist. Having a mixture of different demographics in my remote classes helps bring things into perspective. Interacting with students right out of high school to people who have been in the field for over 15 years shows that people have to keep improving. Growth and development do not have an expiration date.
Overall I am content with my decision to go back to college. Originally I feared I was making a mistake and I would not be successful in this journey. Reaching the halfway mark has eased my feelings towards this choice. The fear of imposter syndrome still lingers in the back of my mind. I have worked in the graphic design field for over 5 years, and I feel like I am finding my place professionally.
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