Part 1: Develop the right mental attitude
Oftentimes, people find themselves in careers that they didn’t study in college, and that’s ok! Sometimes, people seek for clarity as it relates to career progression, and that’s ok. It’s me, I am people and that’s ok! Continue reading my blog post series for a glimpse on how I am illuminating my passion by using the 10 tips on How to stay motivated from Dennis Kimbro’s book, Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice.
My start as a technical writer is unique. Most writers might have their degree in English, Mass communications, Journalism, etc. I’m happy to shake the writing ecosystem as a Mathematician! That’s right, I have a degree in Mathematics. Mathematics is daunting for some, but it’s a universal language. Who would’ve thought mathematics would provide a writing foundation? Statisticians (the data storytellers), that’s who.
What’s the question asked most to you when applying for college?
What do you want to major in/study?
In the words of a true Chicagoan, I was “decent” at academics — so decent that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study. I want to introduce you all to a quote that influenced my decision in what to study:
First of all, only the beginning of the previous quote was introduced to me. Can you imagine my concern and internal thoughts of not being enough because I knew a little of everything, but didn’t have a main skill/focus? I struggled with identifying my value. I ALMOST convinced myself that my efforts were aimless and not impactful.
I’ll always remember my mom suggesting that I study mathematics because it’s always used. Appropriately suggested, my mom started her educator journey as a Math teacher, so it was natural for her to suggest the major. I moved forward to major in Math with a concentration in Actuarial science, as a full-academic scholarship recipient at Virginia State University.
On my journey to graduation, classes started to become smaller.
I appreciated the intimate class setting, but I began to question myself, skillset, and value. Actuaries are required to obtain certifications. One exam that I was preparing for was Exam P (Probability). I did great in the class, but failed the practice exam.
Did I pick the right major? I thought I would excel at this. What else can I do with a Math degree other than become a Math teacher, or accountant?
Up against the clock for graduation, I attended as many career expos as I could. I did well during interviews; but as I progressed in the interview process, I struggled with applying my curriculum knowledge to real world scenarios. Receiving rejection was and still is challenging to work through. I focused on areas where I lacked and didn’t focus on how I could develop those areas.
As mentioned earlier, I did “decent” in college, and was able to gain information and access to an opportunity that lifted my self-doubt and imposter syndrome. I was invited to join a tour of the IBM campus with other students, along with receiving an interview. I was offered the role of Information Developer. This was an unfamiliar position for me. I understood that I was going to be organizing a ton of documentation and communicating with developers, but I still wasn’t sure about what to expect. I was grateful to have a career secured after college.
Humbled by my failures, I shifted my perspective. I went from analyzing numbers, applying algorithms, and writing Math proofs to analyzing the architecture of a document, verifying a consistent tone throughout the doc, and ensuring that it was user-focused. It was evident that I had much more to learn. So I set a personal standard:
When I first started, I quickly realized that I needed to re-familiarize myself with writing and develop my communication skills. I had some practice as a research presenter, but communicating in an agile environment was a different learning curve. Remembering my commitment, I focused on accountability, transparency (willingness to be vulnerable is required), and potential solutions that I can provide or help with.
So how am I illuminating my passion?
I’m developing the right mental attitude. I am a walking magnet and my thoughts toward myself impact my circumstances. Change is constant and I might be reluctant to it; however, my willingness to learn from my experiences helps develop my character and response.
Thanks!
Thank you for taking time to read my post! Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts and updates !