Breaking Free or Just Getting Stuck?
The First Breakthrough: Landing My Internship
When I landed my first internship at 23, it came after a tough year of applying for jobs, going to interviews, and facing constant rejection. So, when a marketing agency offered me a chance, it felt like I was finally breaking free from everything that had held me back—like I was finally finding my way to something bigger.
Mentorship and Meaning: Learning from Steve
I had an incredible mentor—Steve, the PR director at the time. He genuinely enjoyed helping young people like me who were struggling to break in. He saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. And he gave me a chance when no one else would. That meant the world to me.
Caught in the Moment: Missing the Bigger Picture
I was young, naive, and ready to learn. I soaked up everything Steve taught me—writing my first press releases, sitting in on media interviews, and just listening. But in my inexperience, I missed the bigger picture. There were signs—clues—that this career path wasn’t really meant for me.
The Unseen Struggles: Steve’s Silent Discontent
Steve’s actions stayed with me, though. I didn’t understand it at the time, but now, looking back, I realize how unhappy he was with his job. He was frustrated, disillusioned, probably around the same age I am now—middle age, the time when you start questioning your life choices.
When Everything Changes: Leadership and Loss
The company had brought in new leadership and changed everything about his team. Steve had to adapt on the fly, constantly trying to keep up with someone else’s vision. But I could tell he found joy in mentoring me. I saw it in his eyes, in the way he patiently taught me. He wanted to feel that spark again.
The Inevitable Frustration: Realizing What Really Matters
It was a sense of loss—loss of the way things used to be, the people who had come and gone, the direction things were heading that he didn’t agree with. There’s always that honeymoon period when everything clicks, but it never lasts.
Understanding Steve’s Struggles: My Own Career Journey
That growing frustration can make you feel hopeless. Now that I’ve been through all of this in my own career, I finally understand how Steve felt. Looking back, I realize I wasn’t breaking free. I was stepping into a prison that would never really fulfill me.
Defining Myself: What I’ve Learned
I poured too much of myself into a career that didn’t care about me. So why did I care so much about it? I had to stop letting it define me. I had to figure out what I wanted. Some things change, but others always stay the same.
