“There is simply no way life after college can be like this,” I thought to myself as I walked to my co-op on my first day.
Jan. 9, 2023 marked the day that I started as a design co-op. I was ecstatic to actually start, yet as I got off the T, I was hit with a depressing realization.
All of these people that were swarming out of South Station do this everyday. Wake up, get ready, commute, work 9-5, commute home, and go to bed. A vicious cycle. The masses hustle through the financial district to make it to the office by their morning meeting, driven by the aggressive pedestrian culture.
Then the workplace culture hit, and I found myself swimming in a massive sea. I got pushed right into the role with no time to process. I was meeting new people left and right, barely remembering their names, trying to learn how to use the espresso machine without looking like an idiot, and struggling to relate to many of the robots that call themselves directors of blah blah department.
After countless coffee chats with my fellow employees, I learned that those who have been in the corporate world for less time actually have much more respect for their peers. Every manager that I have had a one-on-one with has not fully listened, and has not cared to learn about who I truly am. They have been consumed by corporate America, and they don’t have any time to breathe, let alone meet another new subordinate. However, I have found comfort in connecting with other co-ops and the younger associates, who have a lot of advice for navigating and thriving in the corporate machine.
Since being on my first co-op, I have noticed that our generation seems to have a far better outlook on work-life balance, compared to my older coworkers. We have more respect for ourselves and others. As young adults we have the capability to choose where our life goes.
Don’t get me wrong, we can find our way in corporate America, but it is up to us to change the hustling culture for the better. We need to prevent ourselves from getting stuck in the vicious cycle by molding our workplace environments, and continuing to ensure we are doing what we love. The moment you stop loving what you do is the moment you will no longer feel in control, and become bogged down by the corporate world.