Dealing with Changes in Your 20’s
Being in your 20s can be a fun and exciting time of life. For many people, this time is filled with new experiences, meeting new people, and exploring new opportunities. However, this period can also be characterized by a lot of doubt and insecurity. Your 20s can come with a lot of uncertainty about the future. Although this time can be anxiety-inducing, you are not alone.
Many people in their early 20s are finishing their time in college. While higher education is not for everyone, for some, it can be beneficial to helping determine their career. Many students in college decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. However, not everyone can make this decision easily. Many people struggle to pick both a field of study and a future career.
In my personal experience, college has been an incredible experience. I have met many new people who have helped further my education. College has also helped me come closer to deciding my future career. However, I still am unsure of what exactly I want to do.
My decision to become a psychology major was decided when I was a senior in high school, as I knew that I wanted to do something within the mental health field. However, four years later, I still am uncertain of what exactly I want to do in the future. As I enter my last year as an undergraduate, I feel apprehensive about my future. I always believed that I would have figured out what I want to do for the rest of my life by this age. Many people have reassured me that I have so much time to decide my career, but I worry that time is running out.
This summer, I have had the privilege of working at Elements Psychological Services as an intern. The staff have provided me many opportunities to learn valuable skills in the field of psychology, as well taught me important business knowledge. I have had the chance to shadow clinical psychologists in various settings. This has been an incredible opportunity, as I can see both the day to day procedures and business side of a clinical psychological practice. The opportunity to observe procedures that I have learned about in my classes is very unique.
Although I am still unsure of my future, I am grateful to be able to get involved in my field as much as possible. Through my various internship experiences, including with NAMI Mercer and CarePlus New Jersey, I have been exposed to the field in many different ways. Networking with professionals in your field is an amazing way to build connections and your reputation, receive support and advice, and gain new knowledge.
If you are feeling lost, consider reaching out to a trusted professional in your field to help you. Receiving guidance can be very beneficial, as you can learn about career opportunities that you are interested in. Completing internships and volunteering for professionals in your field can also be very helpful. While I may not have a definitive career path in mind, my various internship experiences have played a crucial role in discovering paths I am not interested in pursuing. Understanding what career paths are uninteresting is equally as vital as determining career paths that are intriguing. If you are unsure about your future, remember that everyone’s journey is different.
- Julia Roman (Elements Psychological Services Intern)
