If I've learned anything recently, its that being a professional adult isn't what they teach you in school. It isn't wearing suits, it isn't working 80 hours a week, it isn't drinking coffee and sitting in an office. Going to school, I always thought I hated business. I never felt I would measure up to that perfect-postured, always 'on it', blazer-wearing adult. I never saw myself as someone who could be like that.
Being the New York girl who wears heels and blazers and carries a Prada bag with her iPad with Starbucks constantly on hand going to a nice, decadent office has always been my imagination of what my adult life would look like. (HAHA! Thanks, movies)
Since becoming an "adult" I have graduated college, gotten a full time job and gotten married. And guess what... I'm STILL not that. Not even close. I'm the girl who drinks tea, eats breakfast at work to save sleeping time and slouches in my office chair. I struggle to wake up in the morning, I sometimes skip showers before work and I stay up too late. But... I AM a professional adult.
I get my job done and I put 110% into everything I do. I am tenacious, I am smart, I am making progress in my career and I put my heart and soul into my work. I get things done on time, I do what is expected of me and I am successful.
I guess the message I am trying to get across here is that professionalism may not always look like what the media wants it to look like. In my opinion, professionalism is doing what you love and doing it well. Professionalism is putting your heart and soul into your work even if you don't feel or look the part. I may look like a 12 year old, I may slouch, I may stay up too late, I may watch "too much Netflix" (is there such a thing?) but I do my job and I DO IT WELL. I follow my passions, I go get what I want, I am committed to success in my career and I believe in my dreams.
Those of you who feel you don't measure up to your dream job, get out of your own head and go get 'em, tigers! If you want it, work for it. Don't get discouraged. Don't let yourself get in the way. Be professional and kind, but always be you and you'll be happy with your career.
