special features
career crisis crossroads: Some career-seeking advice
written by: Em Chan
published November 19, 2020
Navigate feeling lost when looking for jobs or coming up with an exact career path
“I’m insecure about what job or career I want to go into.”
Whether you’re a freshman entering your first term or in the middle of your senior year, you’ve probably gone down a spiral after thinking about this exact question. There’s a lot of jobs out there, yet sometimes when we think of our skillset and how we want to layout the next phase of our lives we’re frozen in uncertainty.
Maybe you’re like me - where your past times are kind of aligned with what you’d like to do in the future, yet your major(s) don’t exactly lead you to your dream job either. Everything is a mix of uncertainty, all kind-ofs, maybes, and “I could, but only if”s. I know for me it’s like that. There’s so many jobs yet how can you pick just one thing, right? Decisions, decisions, decisions...
If you know me at all, you might know I wrote on my personal blog about my own career and internship searching crisis earlier this year, but this post isn’t about me. In the months following that post and struggling to come to terms with “figuring it all out” I came to some realizations and gotten some advice from others that might help you in also “figuring it all out.”
To note: I still don’t have it all figured out, but I think I feel better about the process of it all, which leads me to my first piece of advice:
1. No one is expecting you to have it all figured out - just know what you’d generally want to do and run with that.
Crazy, right? I hope your head didn’t explode like mine did when I heard this. It sounds so simple, yet we get pushed the opposite way, thinking we need to know exactly what we want to be and what we’re doing - when, where, why, how, with who, etc.
With all the creatives I’ve talked to, the sentiment they all emphasize is how their path to where they are currently was never a linear one. Funny enough, they all also shared another trait: knowing what they would generally be okay with doing.
Careers are long and in this industry - let’s be real - jobs typically have a two to three year turnaround before most are out on the move searching for something new.
This isn’t to say throw yourself into everything and see if it sticks, but rather, just keep in mind what skills you want to keep honing in and improving. Take some time to see which career paths and jobs use those skills the most, and start there. That way, you’ll be at least on track to doing something that you enjoy, instead of accidentally getting yourself into a position you absolutely hate.
But perhaps you’re still searching, still hesitant to apply and commit... no worries:
2. If you don’t see what you want to do, just do it yourself.
Huh? Yeah, you read that right! Do it in the form of passion projects. I’m serious.
Passion projects are a great way to push the limits of your ability while also doing something you have some excitement about. Along the way of doing them, you may build a lot of great skills you might not previously had opportunities to practice, while also figuring out things you definitely don’t want to do more than you absolutely have to. Also, you set your own deadlines! I know for some of us that’s good, while for others... not so much, but hey, discipline is a muscle that one has to practice before we really get good with it.
Another aspect you might not have considered is that maybe you haven’t seen the job or career you want to do most is perhaps it hasn’t been come up with before! In an ever evolving world of multimedia, there are so many dimensions of the creative industry that coming up with a passion project that connects those parts can actually inspire new positions or jobs. It’s a long shot to consider it that way, but hey...
You never know unless you try. Which is to say, the biggest epiphany I had and the most important thing to remember:
3. Always remember why you do the work, and make sure that passion is visible in everything you do.
Jobs are temporary, but passion is forever. The creative industry is hard to break into, and is one of the sectors that has the highest rates of burnout. Why? Because when you put your all into what you do, it’s easy to get burnt out.
So this is not to deter you, but just to keep in mind that because this industry is difficult to be successful in that you keep in mind your purpose, stay grateful for your abilities, and do everything with intention.
For example, I’ll just touch on my experience. I got into journalism in high school, came into college I’d go into journalism but instead got into public relations. I got looped into some projects involving some advertising professors, and tacked on advertising as a second major. Throughout this time, I’ve worked across campus doing different things ranging from leadership, grassroots organizing, personal assistant, advising, writing for the paper, and maintaining my own blog.
One day, I decided to talk with a professor I’m close to about my insecurities. He scoffed at me and told me I was worried about the wrong things. He said to look for the commonality in the things I’d chosen to get myself involved in, and as long as I continued to find joy in doing that thing, I will probably find my way toward it - even if unconsciously.
After doing some reflecting it hit me that writing was always there. I’m a writer first and foremost, so whatever I end up going to, as long as it’s writing-based, I’ll be content. But that’s just my story - and the end of my advice! Hopefully these were helpful, I’m sorry I can’t be more specific in my advice but everyone’s path is different.
Trusting in the process is also a crucial aspect, so keep that in mind as well. I know that if you’ve made it this far in life as a creative, that your ingenuity will show through and you’ll figure out your career - it just needs a bit more time.
I hope you enjoyed the read! If you want to connect with me, you can find me on Twitter at @catchuptoemily or @sikfanmei.ah on Instagram. I also blog about my life and food, which you can read at sikfanmei.home.blog and have a YouTube channel to go with it. If that doesn’t interest you, maybe read my work as a food writer, relationship and sex advice columnist, and culture specialist with my news pieces at the Daily Emerald.
The importance of women-owned businesses
written by: Lily Woodman
published October 21, 2020
current events update
written by: Lauren Church
published September 23, 2020
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Feminist Icon and Supreme Court Justice, Dies at 87
• Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died of metastatic pancreatic cancer at 87 in her Washington home last Friday. A lifelong advocate for women’s rights, Ginsburg was a tireless icon for justice. She guided the legal fight for gender equality in the 1970s, became the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 1993 and became a cultural symbol for feminism among the younger American generation in the mid-2010s. During the hours after her death, many gathered at the Supreme Court to honor Ginsburg’s revolutionary career and inspiring life (The New York Times, National Public Radio).
Grand Jury Determines Louisville Police Officers Who Shot Breonna Taylor ‘Not Guilty’
• Protesters from every pocket of America have campaigned for police leadership in Louisville, Kentucky, to arrest the police officers who killed Breonna Taylor when they raided her local apartment last March. This week, tensions rose between protesters and law enforcement as they awaited a grand jury decision which could indict the officers involved with second-degree manslaughter. Today, the jury decided not to charge the officers who shot Taylor, though a former officer was charged with “wanton endangerment” for shooting recklessly at the scene (The Washington Post, The New York Times).
Johnson & Johnson Begin Final Tests for Promising COVID-19 Vaccine
• Johnson & Johnson has announced it’s in the final testing phase of a one-shot COVID-19 vaccine. Though originally behind other leading vaccines for the Coronavirus, Johnson & Johnson’s injection has surged ahead and become the most promising solution to curbing the virus’ spread. It doesn’t require storage in sub-zero temperatures and could prove effectiveness with one injection instead of two. It uses an adenovirus to transmit a COVID-19 gene into human cells, priming the cell to make coronavirus proteins which prepare the immune system against later exposure to COVID. The drug maker will enroll 60,000 participants in their final clinical trial. If successful, 700 million doses should be accessible to the American public by April 2021— enough to vaccinate each citizen twice, if necessary (The New York Times).
4 things you must do before you graduate!
written by: Leah Kahan
published August 17, 2020
No matter what grade you are going into, it is never too early or too late to take full advantage of everything college has to offer.
I am about to begin my senior year and there are four things that I truly believe every senior should have on their bucket list if they don’t already.
1- Take classes that challenge you. I know that sounds like an oxymoron, as I often choose classes I know I will do well in, but with challenge comes growth. Additionally, you should take classes that are outside your comfort zone. Your university most likely offers way more courses and subjects than you could ever imagine— so try something that allows you to gain new perspectives and learn in new ways. For example, take a history course focused on Indigenous Americans, or minority rights, take a science course explaining climate change, take an accounting course, take a cooking course... the options for learning are endless! Don’t just stick to your major or inside your comfort zone. You are paying to learn, so learn all that there is to learn and diversify your knowledge of the world.
2- Get involved. A huge, often free, benefit of college is the myriad of clubs, activities and organizations to get involved in on campus. Many of these will continue even if remote. As a PR major, I strongly believe the majority of my skills in college came from my involvement in Allen Hall PR, a student-run PR firm at the University of Oregon. Additionally, I have built friendships and passions I didn’t even know I had through my involvement with Women in Creative Industries and the Outdoor Program. If there isn’t a program you’re looking for, start one and leave your legacy! And if you are a U of O student, join WICI for free this fall! Senior year is not too late to start something new.
3- Build connections with students and professors. The students in your classes now have the potential of being your future colleagues, get to know them, work on projects together and stay in touch! I use LinkedIn to connect with all my classmates and try to take advantage of classes (even if they are remote) to build my network. Additionally, professors are great resources for connections since many of them have had students in their courses that are now in the careers you are going in to. Get to know them, ask questions and gain insight.
4- Take advantage of university programs. Part of your tuition helps pay for all the university programs, from job fairs, to career counseling, to clubs and more. Make sure you get your money’s worth by not forgetting to use these amazing programs! I have landed internships through resumes I made in the career center, and gained so many skills through the writing help center at the University of Oregon.
Take a second and be grateful. Being a college student is a unique opportunity and a huge privilege that unfortunately not everyone is able to do. Don’t forget that while you finish off your last few years. Remember how much there is to offer and leave feeling like you really did it all.
3 things you should wear this summer!
written by: Kelsey Munger
published July 3, 2020
1. Mini skirts! Whether it be plaid clueless-esque, classic denim, comfy athleisure style or floral pinteresty skirts, mini skirts are the bottom of the summer! They’re so easy to dress up or down, while also extremely light and airy for summer heat. With so many different styles to choose from, everyone can find their fit.
Here are some of my favs:
2. Statement sunglasses! Accessories are the finishing touch to any outfit so have fun with the one that is the most functional too! Sunglasses provide protection from the sun while adding a lively pop to your outfit. From small pastels to large paparazzi blockers, there is a pair for every day of the week.
I recommend these:
3. Headbands and hair accessories! As we are in the midst of the depop/90’s girl comeback, of course chunky, funky headbands and sassy, classic hair clips have to be on this list! Whether you’re a pink cheetah print scrunchie type or tortoiseshell hair claw fan, never leave the house without some spunk in your hair.
Need some ideas?
I also recommend sharing pieces with your friends, going through your old parents clothes or shopping second hand. It IS possible to be stylish and sustainable at the same time.