Watching classmates launch startups while you answer emails.
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We all left those historic campuses with a certain unspoken expectation, didn't we? Visions of changing the world, leading the charge, perhaps even a subtle assumption that success would manifest in grand, public ways. Then reality hits. You scroll through your feed, and there’s a former classmate, just announced their Series A funding. Another is featured in a '30 Under 30' list. Meanwhile, you're navigating corporate hierarchies, optimizing spreadsheets, or perhaps still trying to figure out what 'real' work even looks like.
This is the weird transition nobody warned us about. The "Ivy friends, non-Ivy jobs" dynamic is a silent struggle for many. It's not that your path isn't valuable or fulfilling; it absolutely is. It's the insidious comparison, the feeling that you’re somehow "behind" because your journey isn't a headline-grabbing startup launch. The pressure, often self-imposed, can be immense.
But here’s the truth: everyone’s timeline is unique. The incredible foundation and critical thinking skills we honed weren't just for building unicorn companies. They're for building meaningful careers, contributing to society in countless ways, and yes, even excelling at those 'non-Ivy' jobs. Your quiet progress, your learning, your resilience – these are your successes. Don’t let the highlight reels of others diminish your own genuine accomplishments. We're all in this together, navigating the post-campus world, one email or one innovative idea at a time. Keep building, keep growing.
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