Hey everyone! Welcome back to my blog, I am really excited about this new "Ask Rachel" series. Just having the opportunity to see the questions y'all send in really helps me learn more about all of you and what kind of content you're interested in seeing.
Over the last few years I have learned a lot and I have made many mistakes. During those times it would have been really helpful to have an unbiased person to speak to. While I am by no means a professional or anything of the sort I would love to be able to help those who don't feel they have anyone else to talk to or who would like some help but would prefer to remain anonymous.
Please take any advice I give strictly as my own personal opinion. I would like to continue posting these once a month, so if you are interested in asking a question for my next post click the link below!
https://www.rachel-devin.com/ask-rachel
Literally every semester I have considered transferring, but just haven’t for personal reasons (parents, financial, etc). Do you regret not transferring? Any advice for staying?
For those of you who don't know I despised Indiana University during my first semester. I was unhappy, far from home, and just lonely. I was so certain that I did not want to be at IU anymore that I didn't even want to finish out the year and wait to apply to UGA. Instead, I applied to transfer to Georgia State second semester... and by the grace of god they just never responded to my application.
Personally, transferring probably would have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life. Overcoming all of the negativity I associated with IU my first semester allowed me to grow more as a person than I ever had before. Most of what made my first semester so dreadful was my fear of embracing all of the changes happening around me. In almost all cases I suggest to remain at your university through your first year. One semester typically isn't enough time to really process all of the changes you are experiencing and then to begin actually enjoying the environment around you.
My advice for staying is to sit and write down all of the ways you have put yourself out there to improve your college experience at your current university thus far. This list could include club fairs, making friends in class or getting a local job. Really this list can include anything that helps you get yourself out there and begin acclimating to your new environment. If you look at this list and it seems relatively empty... then start pushing yourself to meet new people and try new things. The more you push yourself the more natural putting yourself out there will become.
You really are in control of what you get out of your college experience, so find the little things on your campus that make you love it. For me personally I loved getting to sit in The Union on campus. Other than being a stunning building it always felt really safe and inviting to me. Once I started spending more time there the other parts of campus began to feel just a little less daunting. You can't expect to wake up one day and love your university however, if you put work into your college experience you can make it anything you want it to be!
Tips for being at an internship that you hate.
Internships are incredibly important in college. An internship you love can help you discover your true passion in life and put you on a clear trajectory towards your future career. Equally as importantly though an internship can show you exactly what you don't want out of your future career. Whether it's the company, position, or field you dislike you have at least discovered one thing you can avoid for future internships and careers.
My first piece of advice to you is to try to remain positive about your internship while you are in the office. There is nothing worse than sitting at your desk doing work and thinking over and over again "wow I really hate it here". It is only going to make you more miserable in the long run so try to just remember that it won't be forever and that you can make it through this internship!
Second, rather than focusing on what you hate about your internship overall try to find the things you can learn from it. Even if you have found that you will never work in this field again you can still learn a lot about how offices work, different computer systems, and co-worker interactions. So take this opportunity to learn some things you can add to your resume!
Overall, the best thing to do is to look at the glass half full. Your internship will come to an end and then you can simply move on to something better.
Any tips for gaining the confidence to go to the gym by yourself?
As someone who was an athlete most of their life I was completely shocked when last year it became really difficult for me to go to the gym alone. I found that my solo gym time would turn into me silently judging my body and simply not feeling good enough to be there. I had to basically retrain my brain to look at the gym as a reward for myself that allows me to be healthier and happier.
First, if you are struggling to go to the gym alone think about the money people are paying to be at this gym. I promise you no one is paying to go to the gym or to a work out class to look at and judge others around them. Would you ever judge someone at the gym who is clearly trying to improve their health? No? So why would anyone else?
Second, it is important for you to start viewing the gym as "me time" or "self care". Rather than thinking of the gym as something to make you skinnier, more toned, or more spring break ready think about it as something you have the opportunity to do to improve yourself overall and destress.
My last piece of advice is to make yourself a playlist you listen to while you are getting ready for the gym/ on your way to the gym that makes you feel like a badd a**. You know all of those songs that come on while you are shuffling through music that just make you feel ready to take on the world, let them motivate you to take on the gym. If you improve the way you think about the gym before you even get there and the rest will be a breeze!
xoxo,
Rachel