Feeling both pride and pressure from your degree.
FEELING BOTH PRIDE AND PRESSURE FROM YOUR DEGREE.
Follow for more honest conversations about navigating post-campus life.
We all envisioned a pretty straightforward path from our hallowed Ivy League campuses to stellar careers. Yet, for many of us, the actual transition from campus to career is a profoundly weird experience nobody truly prepared us for. It’s not always a linear climb; sometimes it’s a baffling, multi-directional maze.
That Ivy League name on your resume? It’s a powerful asset. It opens doors, commands immediate attention, and often fast-tracks you into rooms others can only dream of. There’s immense pride in that accomplishment, in the rigorous education and the network you’ve built. But that very same distinction can also feel like a hidden burden.
Suddenly, you’re expected to not just succeed, but to consistently outperform, to be an exemplar of your institution's prestige. There’s a silent, internal pressure to justify that degree, to constantly prove its worth, and to live up to an almost unattainable standard of excellence. It’s the feeling that every decision, every career move, every perceived stumble, reflects not just on you, but on the entire institution. This duality—this potent mix of immense pride and relentless pressure—is a shared, often unspoken, reality for many of us. It’s okay to acknowledge this unique challenge.
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