It’s been 18 years. 18 years of strict schedules, studying, group projects, organized sports and summer vacations. While there have been small milestones and changes along the way, going from elementary school to middle school to high school and even to university, the culture shock of losing my student status after 18 years has started to sink in.
I have spent 82% of my life thus far in school, and this long-lasting and exciting chapter has finally come to an end. If you haven’t guessed by now, I have just graduated from my four-year university program, and it is a bittersweet moment for me.
A feeling of relief comes from the thought of not having to take another exam in a big echoing gymnasium or having to sit through multiple three-hour lectures every day. But I realized how good I had it when I closed this chapter.
( Check out Quinn’s last article here )
School has always been my comfort zone. I enjoy following instructions, meeting deadlines, being rewarded with good grades, and being able to close my textbook and computer after submitting an assignment and never having to think about it again. This is the beauty of the school. Once you have completed all the required tasks, your work is done, the semester is over, and you can move on to a new and different course. Although it was stressful and frustrating at times, I loved my four years of university. This is where I felt most comfortable and safe in the world.
But now, here I am. Facing the world head-on, with no one to guide me, give me instructions, or tell me what to do going forward. I feel as though I am standing in front of a 50-foot wall with no tools to climb over, but I know I must get to the other side.
As exciting as it sounds to graduate from university and enter your career, I believe many people have felt or feel the same way as me - scared.
If you work a structured 9am-5pm job, you may not understand, but if you have decided to pursue an entrepreneurial career, you may be in the same boat as me.
As silly as it may sound for someone comfortable in a very structured lifestyle, I have decided to challenge myself in the real world and work independently as a real estate agent. Nobody gives me tasks or instructions on how to do my job; I wake up every morning and try to problem solve on how to build my business from the ground up.
Working alone and taking responsibility for every aspect of your business is daunting, but so far, I have found that the victories and breakthroughs feel that much more rewarding. Signing my first client and closing my first deal gave me a burst of confidence and belief in myself that I was lacking.
Working in the real world has not only challenged me but has taught me so much about myself, my values, and my goals in life. Although I will always think of school as my happy place, I have finally started climbing that 50-foot wall and won’t turn back until I have reached the top.
My real estate business is my new chapter in life, and hopefully, this one will be as exciting and rewarding as the last one!
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