You Are Not Alone

*a 3-minute read*

While you may think you have to navigate everything around you by yourself, there is more to life than self-isolation.

Looking around us today, there are plenty of reasons to believe we have to hustle, grind and do everything ourselves because no one else is going to do all the work for us. While many of us know this is true, there are steps skipped in the process, leaving important interactions and connections overlooked because we are too worried about asking people for help or looking “weak” compared to others around us.

Remind yourself you are not alone, there are people who can help you get to where you want to go — you just have to look in the right places.

Now obviously, this is all easier said than done and it takes effort to go out there and actively search for the right type of help. There are a few common examples I’ll touch on that will help paint the picture I want you to see. Enter Michaelangelo.

Welcome to the Real World

So, imagine you start a job and have no idea what to do on your first day because, obviously, it’s a new job with fresh expectations. The ideal thing to do would be to ask someone to show you the ropes and procedures of how to do your job effectively so you know what to do moving forward. Or, you could go off “vibes” and try to look like you are hardly working instead of working hard by doing your own thing (yes I have done this before, yes I will continue to do this in the future).

Results require a certain level of understanding and intentionality with your actions, and you want to put yourself in the ideal situation to get results. Now working off vibes is fun (ha, believe me), but it can only take you so far when there is something required of you every single day.

There is no shame in asking for help. A common misconception we encounter is that asking for help equals incompetence or failure to do something on your own accord. You come to learn, though, that asking for guidance is an essential part of life that can improve your situation greatly. In the same way, failure to do so because you were too afraid or stubborn to ask for help can hinder you severely.

You work with people wherever you go; relationships are built almost every day. While some are brief and casual, others can be long-lasting and impactful. Understand that working with and reaching out to people is one of the exchanges of the world you don’t want to miss out on.

There is no reason to feel like forming these relationships will make you any less of the person you are. The one exchange with a person you are avoiding could be the crucial change you need to take you to the next level.

The Life of a Student

Let me make myself abundantly clear — you must be self-sufficient as a student. If you call me asking to write your 10-page essay on why pineapple belongs on pizza, I will ignore all your calls with the swiftness. This is not the type of help I am talking about, but there are times when you should speak up about not understanding something and needing further clarification — on assignments and tests, for example.

The life of a student is far from easy and the majority of the time you will have to do everything by yourself, but there are resources and people who can make the process easier with the heavy workload you may have.

Speaking from experience, not every professor you interact with is going to be abundantly helpful in completing the course work you have. And while some may think sending emails asking for clarification may seem annoying or troublesome, ultimately you are at school to do well so you should try to do so by any means necessary.

Professors are there to teach, educate, and guide you through the process to make things clear enough for you to complete the tasks assigned. Asking for further clarification is part of the relationship formed between the instructor and the student.

Remember as an instructor their job is to put you in the ideal position to complete the work, and our job as students is to finish the work. If there is miscommunication along the way, you taking the initiative to speak up shows you are invested in your learning and willing to speak up for what you value.

Ultimately, that’s what it’s all about — knowing you can’t get to where you want to go without the assistance of others, but also playing your part by a) finding those people who can help you succeed, and b) creating the best possible finished product with the right tools and guidance at your disposal.

Take The Chance

It’s all part of the process of knowing when you have to speak up and put yourself out there. That’s how you get closer to becoming the best version of yourself. We’re often preoccupied with a fear of looking weak or incompetent, but even the most successful person you know had a point where they didn’t know everything. Someone had to put them on, and it works out because we work with people every day.

You don’t always have the answers, and that’s okay, you’re not supposed to. Learn and adapt your skills — just be willing to ask for guidance from others too.

Thanks for reading, share with a friend, and answer the question below!

When was the last time someone gave you great advice and what was the advice given?