8 Things I wish I Knew About Hybrid Work Environments
By Arden Morgans
Comfort and fear are enemies of progress. I applied for the internship opportunity at DragonTree Media Group while sick with COVID in February of 2022, just one month into the final semester of my senior year.
When Jessie Lee called me to ask if I had time for a screener phone call, I coughed and said, “Yes, of course!” I wasn’t sure if I would do well because I was so sick. With time and experience, I have learned that being uncomfortable is more favorable than being comfortable. When I am in uncomfortable environments, my insecurities suddenly feel uplifted, like a heavyweight being pulled off my anxiety-ridden chest. That’s when I feel like the most confident version of myself.
I am more proud of my achievements when I know there are roadblocks in place that can be overcome. The abnormality of this situation is no different.
Here are some things I have learned throughout my journey with new professional experiences that I wish someone would have told me about beforehand.
Come with solutions. Not just problems
Details are critical in a creative agency.
Figure out the right questions to ask.
Be courageous but also vulnerable.
Make mistakes but be brave enough to correct them.
Don’t be afraid to stick up for yourself, even in a professional environment.
Think through how to articulate your position if higher-ups misunderstand you.
Get uncomfortable.
The last tip I mentioned about getting uncomfortable is probably the most significant piece of advice I could give any senior in college. Being a senior in college is one of the most painful experiences that not enough people discuss. Having to check so many boxes when you feel like you are battling a race with the clocks is not ideal.
The clock ticks even faster when you hear a family member say, “So, what are your plans after graduation?” The senioritis has sunk in, but every day you have an overwhelming amount of things that are being pushed to the side because you are looking for the perfect scenario to place yourself in upon graduation. The ideal job, the perfect location, the ideal apartment, and the perfect roommate. In reality, you will wind up far from a perfect situation. The harsh truth is that when you are young, you are naive, and life does not mirror your perfect reality.
The issue stems from this when the feeling of discomfort suddenly transitions into being satisfied. You are comfortable taking any job you can because you are sick of being let down from your dream jobs. You are comfortable putting your dreams aside because living in your parent’s basement for two years to “save some money” doesn't seem like a bad idea. Fear is waiting at the end of a comfortable situation. Being comfortable is suppressing how you are feeling. Seek the benefits of being uncomfortable; it may teach you a lot about yourself and what you are capable of achieving.