Wondering if you peaked too early.
WONDERING IF YOU PEAKED TOO EARLY.
Follow us for more candid conversations about life beyond the hallowed halls.
That transition from campus to career, wasn't it... stranger than expected? One minute you're debating philosophy in a common room, the next you're navigating spreadsheets and office politics, often feeling a peculiar sense of disconnect. We left those ivy-clad walls brimming with ambition, armed with top-tier education and a network most only dream of. The world, we were told, was ours for the taking.
Then reality hits. The relentless pace, the unexpected challenges, and sometimes, the sheer monotony. Suddenly, the intellectual vibrancy and camaraderie of college feel like a distant, brighter memory. It’s easy to look back at those intense, formative years—the late-night study sessions, the groundbreaking projects, the feeling of being at the absolute peak of your intellectual and social game—and wonder if that was it. If you peaked.
This nagging thought, coupled with the immense pressure to constantly excel, can take a real toll on your mental health. The working world is complex, often less meritocratic than we were led to believe, and it can feel isolating when everyone else seems to have it figured out. But here's the truth: you're not alone in feeling this way. That "weird transition" is a shared experience, and the journey is far from over. Your greatest contributions and most fulfilling moments are still ahead, even if they look different from your campus dreams. This is just another chapter, a new ascent.