3-month post-grad reflections
I thought life wouldn’t be that different from college. I’ve interned at the same place for 2 summers already — how different could it be?
I was very wrong. Here’s what I realized:
Work never ends.
Life has always had definitive ends. The end of 5th grade is the start of 6th grade. Each school quarter transitions into the next. Summer and winter breaks exist. But with full-time, there really is no end.
So treat it as such — play it like a marathon, not a sprint (lol).
During my intern summers, I would spend extra hours and neglect self-care, grinding for a full-time role. For full-time, I soon realized this is unsustainable. And a recipe for burnout later in your career.
So I’ve shifted my mindset to take things day by day and realize it’s not that deep. Make time for yourself (emphasis on make time because you will always feel like there is not enough time). Outside of work, do things you love. At the same time, don’t pressure yourself too early before settling in; remember, you don’t have to do anything.
Remember your role
At the end of the day, you are a junior designer. No one is expecting you to change the world. Your priority at this point in your career should be to grow. Of course, still get shit done. But remember, this is just the first step in your long career. So take your time, be a sponge, and set your future self up for success.
It is so easy to get wrapped up in the deadlines and Jira tickets, but set simple things in your routine to take a step back, reflect, and focus on more holistic growth. For example, every 2 weeks, I do informal reflections on how I’m doing and feeling at work. I try to still work on personal projects when I get the chance. Some people keep a work journal, something I might start doing soon myself.
Seeing the forest from the trees
You know how, during school or internships, you are given a single, large project. While it may not feel so in the moment, it’s a very controlled environment. You are protected from scope creep, from general team roadmaps and priorities. You just have a prompt and a deadline.
But reality is as uncontrolled as you can imagine it. You might be in charge of scoping your own projects. You need to be aware of business deadlines and verify whether what product tells you to design is the right decision at the right time. While you’re juggling the groundwork for a new app experience, you are also handling an endless number of fixes and reactionary tickets. Requirements will change. Miscommunication is bound to happen. And you realize everyone is figuring it out just as much as you are. Murphy’s law, right?
At the same time, it’s kind of fun. Because the guardrails have been lifted, I feel like I can see the bigger picture. I’m lucky to be able to say I’m never bored at work. There’s much to do, lots to think about, & people to talk to.
“Should I be chasing my dreams?” is a completely normal thought
Within the first month, I started thinking: “Did I start corporate too early?” Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and I’m grateful. But I mean, I’m so young, yet here I am sitting at my desk for 8 hours a day. Should I be doing more with my youth now while I have it?
To be honest, I don’t know the answer.
But I think what matters now is acknowledging it and normalizing it. I’ve asked some senior colleagues if they have felt the same. Their response: “Oh, duh, like every other week.” I felt relieved. It turns out everyone has these thoughts — it’s natural to feel this way. And truth is, we still have lots of time. That’s what being in your 20s is for: figuring it out, right?
This goes back to what I had been saying about doing the things you love and making time for yourself. Remember that this first job is just one first step of your career, of your life. It doesn’t have to be anything more or less than that.
a timely reminder from my 2025 moodboard