Like horses with blinders, forced to only look at what’s ahead, our ambitious goals and aspirations often lead us to hyperfixate on the future, forgetting to reflect on everything we’ve already accomplished.
While it’s important to remain determined to achieve your career goals, don’t forget to look back at all the challenges you’ve overcome. Use this as evidence of your capacity to persevere and succeed. If you’ve overcome obstacles in the past, you can do it again.
“Don’t undermine what you’ve done before, even as you continue to grow in the future, because those things were important once, and they’re probably still important or impacting people today,” social work sophomore Camila Reano said. “It’s important to really appreciate your past because, without your past, you wouldn’t have been able to grow into who you’ve become. That growth is what allowed you to be able to do what you are doing now.”
As a pre-law student, I’m very future-oriented. I’m constantly thinking about the next steps and the seemingly never-ending road ahead of me to become an attorney. Studying for the LSAT, interning, attending law school and the bar exam are all looming ahead. Nevertheless, I don’t let the overwhelming future consume or intimidate me by remembering how far I’ve come.
As a transfer student who completed the Coordinated Admissions Program, I often remind myself of everything I had to do to get to the University. Issues with my transcripts, registering for specific and limited classes, maintaining a high GPA and choosing a major were all challenges I overcame.
“We know that it requires so much dedication and effort to be able to transfer to UT-Austin, so anyone who has made it here has already put in a lot of time and energy and has done well academically,” said Carolyn Price, student program coordinator at the First-Year Experience Office. “Hopefully, knowing that you’ve worked hard in the past is comforting to know that you can continue to work hard and accomplish your future goals.”
Moreover, now that I’m a junior at UT, I look back at everything I’ve accomplished here. I’m part of many student organizations, I’ve built meaningful relationships, maintained high grades and even taken on the role of a Transfer-Year Interest Group mentor.
It’s important to celebrate your accomplishments as a source of motivation to keep going and prove to yourself that you’re more than capable of achieving what you put your mind to. I don’t know how I’ll get to where I want to be, but I know I’ll get there. Everything has ultimately worked out so far, and I’m confident it’ll work out in the future.
Critics might say there is no value in thinking about the past because what matters is the future. Remembering your past might feel like it takes away valuable time and energy that would be better spent on your future. However, it’s challenging to move forward effectively without acknowledging where you’ve been.
Recognizing your past experiences not only provides context for your current journey but also serves as a powerful reminder of your resilience and ability to overcome obstacles. You’ve done it in the past. You can do it in the future.
Mendoza is a philosophy junior from El Paso, Texas.
