Choosing happiness over prestige—for real this time.
CHOOSING HAPPINESS OVER PRESTIGE—FOR REAL THIS TIME.
Follow for more honest conversations on navigating life beyond the lecture halls.
We all arrived on campus with a shared, unspoken understanding of achievement. For years, we excelled, mastering the art of the perfect GPA, the coveted internship, the impressive resume line. We were programmed to chase the next big thing, perpetually aiming for a perceived peak. The leap from that highly structured, competitive academic bubble to the messy, unpredictable world of careers and adulting? Nobody truly warned us how profoundly weird that transition would be.
For many of us, the initial instinct is to simply replicate that drive for prestige. We gravitate towards the big firms, the high-profile roles, the kind of titles that impress at alumni events. But then, for some, a quiet question starts to echo, growing louder with each passing year: Is this truly my happiness? Am I living authentically, or just checking boxes designed by someone else's definition of success?
It takes immense courage to pause, to reflect deeply on what growth means when it's not just about climbing an external ladder. It's about cultivating a long-term vision for a life that prioritizes well-being, purpose, and genuine fulfillment over mere external validation. This isn't a betrayal of our ambitious roots; it's a necessary evolution. It's the moment we realize that true achievement might not be the highest salary or the most impressive corporate title, but the profound peace of mind that comes from designing a life aligned with our truest selves.
It's okay to redefine your metrics. It's okay to choose joy, even if it doesn't look like the path everyone expects. For real this time, let's build lives that truly make us happy, not just look impressive on paper.
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