Being a 20 something in 2016 is hard. Graduation day, when your diploma is finally in your hands, it seems like you’re on top of the world. You can do anything, be anything, and then reality sets in. It’s been nine months and so far, post grad life has you at a crossroads. Job interviews are going nowhere and now you’re starting to question your career choice: Am I even qualified? Where am I supposed to get experience if no one will hire me? Then you start to panic: I have no idea where I am going, what I’m doing or what I want. You then start to convince yourself that you’re going nowhere and will probably be stuck living in your parents house for the rest of your life.
STOP.
You are not alone. No one, at the age of 22, finds their place in the career of their choice immediately. We all have to start from the bottom. We all have to work our way up. Don’t let yourself, or the naysayers in your life, discourage you from pursuing your dream. No matter how long it takes, you will get there. In fact, some of the biggest companies, brands and people didn’t take off until after they reached their 30’s, or even their 40s and 50s.
Vera Wang: started designing wedding gowns at the age of 40. She grew up a figure skater and competed professionally throughout her young life. She failed, however, to make the US Olympics team which was when she delved into the world of fashion. She began her career working with Vogue magazine and at the age of 23 was promoted to senior fashion editor, a position she held for 15 years. She moved on to work for Ralph Lauren as design director, after being turned down for the position as editor-in-chief for Vogue. Upon marrying she noticed the lack of selection in bridal wear. She decided to sketch her own gown which she commissioned a tailor to create. A year later she opened up her own bridal boutique.
Oprah Winfrey: was 33 years old when she moved to Chicago and signed a syndication deal that would inevitably skyrocket her career. Prior, she had been working in Baltimore following gradution as a reporter for WJZ-TV as well as a co-anchor for the six o’clock news. From there she went on to be the co-host of an early morning talk show “People are Talking.” When she moved to Chicago she was offered a position to host a local talk show called “Am Chicago.” Although it’s ratings were low it gradually rose to number one and was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” three years later.
JK Rowling: whose first book wasn’t published until she was 33, following graduation moved to London where she was working at Amnesty International. The idea for Harry Potter came to her when she was 25 on a delayed train ride from Manchester to London. After her marriage failed, she moved with her daughter back to the UK from Portugal where she ending up living on welfare and teaching English classes during the evenings to get by. It was there that the final draft of Harry Potter was completed.