“It’s difficult to think of yourself as 'doing enough'.”
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Sonya Cao is a first year computer science student at Western University and an aspiring consultant, trying to navigate the constant push for external validation.
Have you ever felt like you had to “prove your worth”?
"I think especially in this kind of (university) environment where you’re surrounded with people in the same faculty, there’s this constant comparison with the people around you about the number of extracurriculars, the number of internships, how quickly someone can get a job... It’s a spiral, and when you feel like you don’t have these things, it’s difficult to think of yourself as 'doing enough'.
When you start thinking that you need to prove your worth to your peers and the people around you just to fit in, there’s this toxic mentality where you’ll never be enough in comparison. I think what really helped me get away from this whole mindset is realizing that not everyone is running the same race. There are countless different paths towards your goals, and you can’t confine yourself to this idea that there is a linear path to a single outcome, otherwise you break down as soon as something doesn’t go as planned.
In some situations, feeling the need to push yourself and show what you’re capable of is definitely a great motivator.
It can pressure you to do better and actually have a passion and commitment towards your task, but it depends on who you’re proving your worth to— and if that mindset will build you up or tear you down."
Check out Sonya on LinkedIn
This is a presentation I delivered to High school students across Ontario about their life after high school. I talk about: what are your options, how to learn what path is best for you and how can you achieve your goals.
Last summer, I decided that I wanted to work at a top tech company such as Google or Bridgewater. Problem. I didn't go to a target school, my grades were just okay and I had little work experience. If I wanted to get a chance at these compa...