20something profile: Bridget

This post was written by Bridget, who works for a startup tech company:

We grow up in a world where everybody puts so much emphasis on getting a good education. When we were younger, we thought of education as something we needed to get through so we can finally “live” our lives. As young adults we are taught that college prepares you for life. Why? I have no idea. I never understood this way of thinking — maybe because I have a little bit more of an unconventional story. Truth is, education doesn’t prepare you for life; education is life.

I am 23 years old and still in college. I still have a few more years to go depending on how many credits I take every semester. I’m hoping to graduate in 2015 (finger crossed)! I have no idea what I want to do later on and have switched majors at least 5 times. Right now, I am going for my Associate’s in Business Administration and will go for a Bachelor’s in either Marketing or International Business. It scares me having to choose only one thing because I wish I could learn/do everything.

I love learning; I’m addicted to it, but because I haven’t had the best experience with the school/university system in the US, I don’t think of it as highly anymore. I think we can teach ourselves anything if we really want it. We shouldn’t have to depend on a 40k/year school to make that happen for us and for sure not depend on that to make us or break us. Unfortunately, most people and companies still think that way.

I’ve been working since I was 17 and haven’t stopped or taken a break since. I currently work for a startup tech company as a Customer Support Specialist. Because I work for a startup, my duties and responsibilities fall a little bit all over the place. I do social media on the weekends, help out the Business Analysts and Marketing Team when I’m needed, project manage, come up with and manage outreach programs, and I’m responsible for coming up with ideas on how to make the service/product better.

My career aspirations have changed over the years, but now that I’ve been exposed to the workforce and all that comes with it, I believe I want to create/start something of my own someday. What that is, I have no clue yet. For now I am going to keep on doing the things I like and will teach myself everything I’d like to learn.

Most people feel sad for our generation, but I’m a little excited and also happy. We have it a little more difficult in the sense that nobody has that typical story/path: High School >> College >> Entry Level job >> work yourself up. Jobs aren’t secure and are being given to the younger folks or interns who will do it for free. Education isn’t enough anymore — you need a degree, professional experience, and something extra.

The good thing is that there is a rise in entrepreneurship and innovation. People are becoming more and more turned off by working for somebody else and more intrigued by the idea of working for themselves. There is an incredible rise in micro business and innovation which will bring about a whole new wave of possibilities and opportunities for everybody. We live in a time where we can literally start our own business within a day if we wanted to, which to this day still fascinates me.

I haven’t figured out yet what it is that I’d love to do, even though I do know I am passionate about education, travel, culture, entrepreneurship, and — as typical as this might sound — fashion.

I am true believer that if you do what you love, your job won’t feel like work. So, if you’re lucky enough to have found a passion and talent, please pursue it. Life’s too short to waste your time doing something you don’t love.

Check out Bridget’s blog One Woman Circus

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