The Real World: Year One Notes

Today, I was asked if I like my job. Well, if you know me at all, you know the answer to this question --- I adore my job! I constantly pinch myself because I'm doing something I love so much right out of college. I don't know what I did to deserve such a blessing, but I am extremely grateful and thank my lucky stars every day.

This question led to a dramatic realization: Tuesday, February 1, marks my one-year anniversary in The Real World. 365 days. 525,600 minutes. Too many seconds to count. I can't believe how time flies when you're having fun...and learning, growing and becoming an adult.

With today's question and my upcoming anniversary, I began to think about what I have learned in the past year about working in the professional world. I believe your first year in your working life is the one where you learn and grow the most. It is essential to your future to note all you learn in that first year and store it away for the rest of your career to reference whenever you need.

I could write a Bible-sized novel about everything I have learned in the past year, but I'd like to share my top 3 lessons in this blog post:

1) All About Atmosphere: Every person I've talked to in my professional life agrees that your working environment can make or break your happiness at a job. You can adore the work you do but dread going to work every day because you hate the office atmosphere. This includes everything from setting (cube city or corner office) to your coworkers (social scene or silent library).

I personally don't have a preference of a cubicle or an office, but I have known from the beginning of my interning life that my coworkers are a huge factor in whether I like a job or not. I have spent the past year working 9 to 5 with some of the most caring, intelligent and talented individuals I have ever met in my 22 years. They love what they do --- even on the hardest days --- and they truly care about the success of the organization. This is an amazing atmosphere in which to work.

2) Mark Your Mentor: I'm a person who naturally picks a mentor in any situation. It is human nature to pick something to strive for because we need goals to accomplish. I recommend finding someone to be your mentor in the early stages of your job. It can be your boss (the obvious choice), but it definitely does not need to be. Your mentor doesn't even have to work at the same company. Mark your mentor as a person who has a career, personality, success and respect that you hope to have. Once you have established a relationship with said mentor, don't hesitate to share your decision. I have never ran into a mentor who wasn't flattered to be deemed as such. Take advantage of this relationship to learn, grow and become the professional rockstar you believe this mentor is. I have also never ran into a mentor who wasn't willing to help the mentee accomplish all of the above and more.

My mentor knows who she is because I have not hesitated to tell her. I attribute 95% of my growth as a working professional in the past year to her taking me under her wing to teach me everything and anything she knows. Thinking back through all the trials and tribulations of the past year, I know I would not be where I am today without her guidance, and I make sure to tell her so whenever appropriate because I am, and forever will be, extremely grateful. I can only hope to make as big an impact on another person's entire professional life as she has made on mine in just one year.

3) Do What You Love. Love What You Do: This first year of my career has not been all sunshine and smiles. That is completely unrealistic for any situation and person. But in every moment --- from your lowest low to your highest high --- love what you do. Like everyone, I admit that I have had moments where I wanted to walk outside and scream...and a few times I have literally done just that, much to the surprise of the innocent passersby on the sidewalk. But I always go back to the office and, more importantly, I want to go back because I know the best moments I have at work far outweigh the worst. And, more importantly, I learn and grow from both the best and worst moments, so they are all worth it.

Summary: Every morning, I wake up and get to do something I love with people I adore in a fabulous city. My greatest wish is that every one of you reading this blog can say the same at some point in your career.

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For those readers who have been in the working world for at least one year, let me know if you have found you've learned some of the same lessons, and please share additional ones I have not mentioned here. I'm sure I've learned those too!

For those readers still waiting to enter The Real World, know that we will not have the exact same experiences or lessons learned, but the learning part is inevitable. Get ready for the most teaching year of your life...and love every minute of it!

Xo,

Alyson