Finding your way to a career and maybe graduate school during a gap year or two
By Joyce Lee UA’24 and Jim Stellar
I met Joyce very early in her college years and we formed a mentor-mentee connection that took that to her graduation from UAlbany. She is now well into a gap year and we have retained that relationship. We decided to explore here what a mentor-mentee relationship is like after college graduation. This period is increasingly an interest of mine as an interesting part of the use of jobs and other forms of experiential learning to continue the process of building up professional wisdom that was begun in college. An internship in college is not quite the same as being employed.
Our first step in this blog is to get Joyce’s opinions about that shift into the real-world from someone who is experiencing it now.
Thank you for sharing your insightful perspective on the mentor-mentee relationship beyond college graduation. I’m grateful for the opportunity to reflect on my own experiences and share my thoughts.
As someone who has recently transitioned into the real world, I can attest that the shift from academia to professional life can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. The mentorship and guidance I received during my college years played a significant role in preparing me for this transition, so thank you, Professor Stellar!
I’m excited to explore this topic further and share my thoughts on navigating the real world, building professional wisdom, and maintaining meaningful mentor-mentee relationships beyond graduation.
You were always very bright and highly responsible. I could see that easily as your professor. I could see it even more after we developed our mentor-mentee relationship. I assumed you developed that college approach as a student over the 12 or more years of schooling you had before you came to UAlbany. In college, we continued that process and you began to explore the world of knowledge which is not only interesting itself but we hope led into a career path after college. Now that path is happening. It took a while. You were no longer in a system, e.g. going from junior to senior years, fulfilling major and minor course requirements, etc.
Can you describe a bit more about that transition?
I always intended to take a gap year from my undergraduate time to take a job since the opportunity was there and my curiosity got to me. Ultimately, the work environment became a bit toxic and I felt like a failure. This was a difficult time, but it allowed me to focus on my strengths and feel more certain to continue involving myself in a career that brings me happiness. I found new skills to learn and got back into the old hobbies that made me happy in my early adolescence.
I read this quote recently “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” I decided to trust that everything comes together in a way that’s right for me.
And that sense of trust seems to have worked out. You just got a job and are on your way now to working in the child mental health area. It must be a relief. I like this quote, “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” But you also did the process in the right way, by sticking to the plan and getting through the tough areas. So, congratulations.
Now can you talk about those first days of working at the job.
As I reflect on my first month in this new role, I’d be fibbing if I said it’s all been smooth sailing. But amidst the challenges, I have gained invaluable insights that have been instrumental in my growth. One crucial takeaway is the importance of self-advocacy in the workplace. Learning to express my concerns and needs, even when it means having tough conversations with colleagues, has been a game-changer.
Like many fresh graduates, I struggled to find my footing in the professional world, often taking on the responsibilities of my co-workers and more than I could handle. However, I have been fortunate to currently work with a team that values open and honest communication. This has allowed us to tackle issues head-on and work collaboratively towards solutions.
The highlight of my job has been working with my students. Building relationships with them has been incredibly rewarding, and witnessing their growth and development has made every challenge worth it. As I continue to navigate this new chapter in my career, I am reminded that it’s okay to not have all the answers and that learning is a continuous process.
It is indeed a journey as well as a destination. One final question, about that destination. How has this work experience changed, if at all, your ideas about graduate school?
This work experience has deepened my understanding of the importance of graduate school in further developing my skills and knowledge to better support my students. It’s reinforced the value of ongoing learning and growth in my career.
I feel like I am finding a balance between my intellectual pursuits and emotional well-being, allowing me to navigate the challenges of my career and personal life with greater self-awareness, resilience, and purpose. As I work with my students and strive to reach my full potential, I am learning to align my thoughts and feelings to make more insightful decisions and build stronger relationships.
Perhaps the best definition of what it means to be human is to grow. We are all growing at every stage of life and this is apparent to both of us about both of us. But something powerful happens when one approaches a circumstance at the end of college where the potential of a career looms and the hope for growth (as well as income) hangs in the balance. We will be back to write again about how this stage works out for JL.
