Whether you are going through a crazy midterm season or in the midst of recruiting for your next job, it can be easy to feel lost in the midst of it all. With that being said, if I have l taken away anything from my freshman year of college, it would be the importance of self-awareness.
The term self-awareness can be interpreted differently by every individual, but one of the most important things about self-awareness is your personal mindset. Your personal mindset affects your confidence, your passion, and your ability to pursue your personal goals. In a competitive environment like Berkeley, it can be hard to avoid comparing yourself to the people around you. In fact, we often let other people’s interests become our own, and in doing so, we question our own worth. Today I am here to tell you how special it is to create your own path and appreciate all the work that has led you to this point in your life.
One of the best things you can do for yourself, during any challenging time, is take a step back and look at how far you have come. Every person has gone through their own share of personal struggles and obstacles to get to where they are today: acknowledging the hard work that you’ve put in helps us value ourselves a little more. The next piece of advice I would give is to set two or three personal goals for yourself. What are YOU interested in? What makes YOU happy? These questions often stop getting addressed when we’re juggling all that is going on in our day-to-day lives. Lastly, prioritize yourself. Whether this entails planning out a schedule to meet your weekly deadlines, or taking thirty minutes out of every day for your personal wellness, don’t confuse other people’s expectations as your own obligations.
It is easier said than done to follow your heart and execute the cliche “ everyone has a different path in life”. However, the more you become aware of yourself and your limitless potential, the more you realize how attainable the line is to live up to!
By: Sarah Ding