Junior year is over. It's summer, and I'll be starting my senior year of college in the fall. Although it seems like freshman year was just last week, I'm slowly coming to the realization that I'm an upperclassman and I'll have to leave some of my projects to other people.
I've already started the process of passing the torch. At the end of the semester, I decided not to run again for the executive board of the environmental club on campus. I was the public relations coordinator, so I ran the club's social media, designed the website, and planned events. It was a good experience and I became a lot closer with the other members, but I realized I was too busy to do the position justice. Someone with more time and energy to dedicate will be able to do a better job. I struggled with that realization this past semester and have finally been able to accept it. I'll be more than happy to help from the sidelines if and when I'm needed.
Since classes ended, I've taken on more hours at work, so I've been taking on more responsibilities. One of the most recent challenges has been working with interns. Since I have about nine months of experience with the agency, I get to train interns to do some of the more basic tasks involved with the job. It's fun, but difficult to be responsible for keeping interns busy in addition to my own work.
Growing older is an interesting experience. I have to think more creatively to manage more responsibilities, but I also have to learn to let go. Working in the professional world isn't just about the using skills you accumulate as an individual; it's about using those skills in conjunction with other people. It's about knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and knowing when to ask for help or when to ask for more to do. I'm really enjoying flexing my muscles and testing the boundaries of my professional life. I hope I can do the same in other areas of my life as well.
