Hi everyone! I’m Wendy Wang, editor of the AEO to Ivey Blog for the 2018/19 year. I’m really excited for the upcoming year, and I hope that you are too. I want to kick things off by sharing one of the best pieces of advice that I’ve followed since coming to Western last September.
Keeping an open mind
Especially as AEO students, I feel like many of us adopt a tunnel vision of what type of career constitutes as a “success”.
In your early years of university, it’s beneficial to keep your options open because there’s simply so many jobs and areas of study to choose from, and so many that we have yet to be exposed to. For example, prior to university I was never a tech-savvy person and I didn’t care much for computer programming. That’s changed. Well, except for the tech-savvy part (I’m still working on that).
My first-year
I attended tech events and chatted with students passionate about tech—learning about the incredibly innovative ways businesses are integrating emerging technologies. Now, I actively try to educate myself on topics such as social data analytics and artificial intelligence. I’m even taking a couple of computer science courses this year.
That being said, you are not going to enjoy everything you try. I have friends switching courses and even programs. That’s okay! Determining what you don’t like is equally as valuable because now you can confidently divert your attention elsewhere, without worrying that you’re missing out.
How about you?
University is one of the best places to learn a lot about the world and also learn a lot about yourself. Try new things, talk to people from different disciplines—find out what you are truly passionate about and what type of environment you thrive in. Sometimes, we become fixated with what we know or what we perceive is expected of us because the lesser-known path is daunting. There’s an undeniable pressure to “follow the herd”, but I encourage you to take a moment once in a while to reflect on the impact you want to make in the world.
Success is: [your path here]
So, keep an open mind. What starts as a hesitant exploration can transform into a keen interest. Everyone’s path will be different, but if you can find an area of study or a career where you can be unapologetically yourself, I consider that a success.
You don’t need to have your whole life planned out right now. I know that I don’t. Take this time to explore the options in front of you, and remember, it’s completely okay to change your mind along the way. Time is on your side.