Be Resilient in Your Twenties – by Ali Rim

Hello SOTGC community,

I grew up in an Asian culture where my parents played the traditional gender roles. Although it was never directly said, I grew up thinking that men are leaders and women follow. By the time I reached my teenage years, I was struggling with two identities: be the change in the world or sit back and let someone else do it.

When I was 16 years old, I was a competitive cheerleader. Our squad of 22 girls sat on the floor writing down the name of who we wanted as our Captain while our coach walked around collecting the little folded up squares in her baseball cap. Little did I know, this next moment would change my life forever. All of the girls voted for me because they saw what I didn’t: leadership potential. It was through this that I learned to stop selling myself short just because I was a “girl.” I joined clubs, took leadership positions, and even started a new club called “Senior Leaders” at my high school. I then went on to receive my Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Florida State University where I joined a sorority, was voted as my pledge class President, and then represented the university by becoming an Orientation Leader (leading new students). I even took leadership classes and was selected to teach a freshman class because of my leadership abilities. It was all so perfect.…

Until I graduated and started my first “big girl” job in the corporate world. It hit me like a ton of bricks, and I finally felt defeated. I was 21 years old and surrounded by those older than me who had a wealth of knowledge and experience.

They were so smart!

They were REAL leaders and REAL adults!

It felt like everyone was confident, bold, and outspoken!

I immediately felt like a little fish in the big ocean. My friends were still sending me drunk-texts and I was contemplating between cheese cubes and peanut butter for dinner.  How could I possibly be taken seriously at work?

BE RESILIENT! Keep doing what works, and improve what doesn’t. Shake it off and realize that you’re not the only one who is trying to figure it out. Just like you, I still face struggles that I feel young professionals encounter on a daily basis; I’m learning how to balance my health, money, and my relationships. Your twenties is a learning experience, so I ask that YOU join me on this journey.

Do you feel ready to tackle those challenges and show the world your leadership qualities? If so then please Tweet, Pin, share of Facebook or Google+ and help spread the message.

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