Emma Hutchins
Opinions Editor
When I was younger, the only life guidance I needed was from the game MASH. It predicted I would have 1,000 kids, own a red Ferrari, live in a shack, and work at McDonalds. Sweet life, no?
Flash forward a decade – through the pubescent awkwardness of middle school; the procrastination time hole that is Facebook; and the development of a coffee addiction…and Voila! A quintessential high school student!
Now that I am older, however, a piece of seemingly prophetic loose leaf telling me that I will be a flashy hobo doesn’t seem to cut it.
But a few of my experiences this summer have showed me the remarkably nonlinear progression of many successful individuals, and that sometimes people need to stop the uber-planning and just go with the flow. Take that, elementary school oracle bones.
Evidence #1. This summer, through some serious divine intervention, I found myself commuting to the city three days a week to intern at Rolling Stone Magazine.
Even though I seemed to be allergic to any celebrity appearances (i.e. on vacation when Kanye came to rap in the boardroom, was busy during the Maroon 5 luncheon, etc.) I ended up having a really great time, and met some pretty cool people.
Anyway, every Wednesday there was a catered lunch for the interns (complete with way-too-good-for-someone-trying-to-fit-into-a-bikini cookies), while different employees at the publication talked about their careers, and fielded questions from us corporate serfs.
Between those awesome cookies and some funny/raunchy anecdotes and insights, including one employee who got stoned with a certain high profile actor on a photo shoot, I absorbed career advice from people who ended up in jobs they love but that most of them never even knew existed.
Their message: it’s okay to be a little clueless about your career. My parents have told me variations of this a million times, but somehow it doesn’t seem so trite and middle-aged when it’s coming from someone who’s interviewed JWoww and Snooki. I know, how elitist!
Another gem of wisdom from the folks at 1290 Avenue of the Americas? Every assignment, no matter how mundane or seemingly beneath you, is an opportunity to prove yourself, so throw yourself into it.
I took this to heart when a friend and I had to alphabetize the vast personal CD collection of a top-of-the-totem-pole-type. Scratch that, “vast” is not nearly a strong enough word. Perhaps infinite-universe-of-plastic-cases-that-intimidate-Emma captures it better. I may cry if I ever see another Bruce Springsteen album, but it was actually a pretty neat experience and nothing says accomplishment like 16 hours of sorting!
Evidence #2. A recent article in the New York Times featured a 17-year old named Cree Bautista. His claim to fame? Being the first student to apply to college through the Common App. for the class of 2015. This fun tidbit triggered an angsty, expletive-filled freak out in my head. He what?!!!
Currently my college essay has yet to be finished – okay started (which hopefully won’t be the case by the time this is published), my surfing of sites like “college prowler” has tapered off, and my Naviance page remains conspicuously bare. Curse you, Cree Bautista!
In all honesty though, I admire this kid’s ambition and/or wish I had his self-discipline. It’s also pretty sweet to be written up in the New York Times. Yet the college admissions officers the article interviewed didn’t seem to jump on the idea.
Shawn Abbott, who works in undergraduate admissions at N.Y.U., where Cree is applying, even compared this phenomenon to a horse race, and said, “We won’t even download it until months from now.” Phew. I shall take this as a sign that I can procrastinate a little more….
In conclusion, this is not to say “throw away your ambitions” or “never aspire to anything” or “don’t be a self-starter and just wait for your fairy-tale ending.” Rather, in the age of Cree Bautistas, before you commit your life to a predestined track, think about what you really want, your interests and passions, and perhaps walk the journey as an explorer looking for new paths along the way.
