MBA, Job Hunting, and Beyond: Lessons from 2025
This year has been an incredibly transformative year for me, and it’s been full of growth in more ways than I expected. As many others say around this time of year, I’m not the same person that I was when 2025 began. I’m much more mature, more professional, and better prepared for the next step in my career. To wrap up the year, I want to reflect on the highs and lows that shaped me, and the insights I gained along the way.
In 2025, I continued to navigate post-grad life while earning my MBA. This was also the first year I wasn’t a student-athlete; it’s officially been one year since I stepped on the NDA Nationals stage to compete for the last time. Because I was no longer a student-athlete, I had a lot of free time that I wasn’t used to. More downtime meant learning how to structure my time on my own instead of relying on built-in routines and obligations.
While earning my MBA, I also began looking for my first full-time marketing role or a second internship to develop my skills further. I’ve spent countless hours searching for jobs and networking, experiencing rejection, uncertainty, and slow progress firsthand. At the beginning of my job search, my approach was pretty passive. I relied solely on applications and used my lack of formal experience as a reason to count myself out of opportunities, instead of leaning into what I could offer. I quickly learned that in this job market, simply applying and waiting isn’t enough. Growth and progress come from doing, showing up, and putting yourself out there, not waiting.
Earning My MBA & Building Discipline
Earning my MBA was one of the most meaningful accomplishments this year. This fast-paced, year-long program taught me a lot about time management, networking, and determination. Each class lasted only five weeks, which required discipline, focus, and the ability to adapt quickly. Working with the same team throughout the year taught me how to communicate efficiently, motivate others, and collaborate under pressure. Some of my most memorable moments came from long study sessions with friends over calls, at apartments, or in coffee houses, where we leaned on each other to get through demanding weeks.
Learning Professionalism in Real-World Settings
I also learned the true meaning of professionalism by jumping headfirst into real-world settings. I’ve learned how to pitch myself and my skills to strangers, colleagues, and even informally at social events like football and basketball games. One of my biggest challenges this year was learning how to navigate professional settings. Before joining the MBA program, I had never attended a formal business networking event. I had experience at social events through my family and athletic appearances, but those environments are very different. As I started attending more professional networking events, luncheons, and industry gatherings, I had to learn how to read the room, hold intentional conversations, and follow up afterward. Each event pushed me to become more confident, more prepared, and more comfortable advocating for myself in unfamiliar spaces. The more I showed up, the more natural it began to feel.
Redefining How I Introduce Myself
For most of my life, I introduced myself through the lens of being a competitive dancer and student-athlete. Learning how to confidently present myself without leading with that identity was an adjustment. I had to redefine how I introduce myself and make an impression based on my skills, interests, and goals rather than a title I no longer hold. I’m proud to say I’ve pushed through that discomfort and thrown myself into networking events even when I felt nervous. I’ve learned how to introduce myself to people I’ve never met before confidently, and I’ve gotten much better with practice.
Interview Experience & Self-Reflection
In addition to networking, I’ve gained a lot of interview experience this year. Interviews are something many people, including myself, get nervous about. Even with a year of interview practice under my belt, they still make me anxious. I’ve made it a priority to learn from every interview by reflecting on what went well and what I could improve. I’ve also improved my interview preparation by taking detailed notes on companies, researching their mission and work, reviewing job descriptions to identify where I can deliver immediately and where I need growth, and preparing at least five thoughtful questions for every interview. I’m still working on how to talk about myself and my experiences in a way that clearly communicates my strengths, but I’ve made significant progress. I’m grateful for every interview opportunity I’ve had because each one has helped me grow.
Letting Go of Perfection & Building Confidence
One of the most important things I discovered this year is a deeper confidence in my abilities. I’ve realized that I have more potential than I often give myself credit for. Growing up in dance, a sport where perfection is rewarded, shaped me into a perfectionist. That mindset trained me to believe that if something wasn’t excellent immediately, it wasn’t worth claiming as a strength, which made me second-guess skills I was actually good at. While that mindset pushed me to work hard, it also held me back. I avoided opportunities because I equated mistakes with failure and worried they would only confirm my self-doubt, rather than helping me grow.
This year, I started learning when to quiet that perfectionist voice. By doing so, I reached out to people I didn’t know for coffee, even when I felt unsure about what to say or worried my message wasn’t “good enough.” Quieting my perfectionism also allowed me to share work that wasn’t “perfect” to me and to begin creating mock projects without waiting for external validation or fearing that others would tell me my work wasn’t good enough.
That shift showed up most clearly in how I approached creating and sharing my work. I never thought I’d be able to create logos from scratch because I assumed they’d never measure up to those made by experienced designers. By letting go of the mindset that I had to be great at something before I was allowed to try it, I learned that I can create logos, and while they won’t always be perfect, they improve with practice.
Letting go of perfection also helped me overcome my fear of posting online. I used to feel awkward sharing my thoughts publicly because I didn’t think I had anything worth saying. Knowing how important visibility is, I created the Content Confidence Project, a personal content marketing initiative tied to my LinkedIn and website. Through blogs, carousels, one-pagers, and text posts, I proved to myself that I can create quality content independently. My posts aren’t always perfect, but with every post, my skills sharpen, my confidence grows, and showing up consistently helps me improve.
I’ve also learned that if I want to try a new content format or build a new skill, I can learn it by finding the right resources and references and putting in the reps, rather than waiting until I feel fully ready.
Building Connections, Taking Advice, & Staying Connected
One of the biggest lessons for me this year was learning how to network and build meaningful connections. I’ve learned how to network both digitally and in person, send cold outreach emails, and meet people for coffee. Many of these conversations have turned into valuable learning experiences because they gave me insight into different career paths, perspectives, and lessons I couldn’t learn on my own. Networking has become less intimidating and more about genuine curiosity and connection. I’ve sought advice from many people this year, and I value every perspective I’m given. After every coffee chat, I write that advice down in my commonplace book so I can reflect on it later. Even tips I don’t use immediately still shape how I think and make decisions over time.
Another lesson I’ve learned is that people will naturally lose touch with you, and that’s okay. Some people are meant to be part of your life for a season, others longer. Reconnecting with people unexpectedly has reminded me how valuable those relationships still are, even after time passes. This year made me more aware of the people I’ve lost touch with, and if there’s someone you’ve been thinking about reconnecting with, consider this your sign to reach out. The same applies professionally. People forget to respond, inboxes fill up, and follow-ups get missed. Persistence is necessary, not pushy. Following up on emails and reconnecting after meetings shows interest, professionalism, and respect for the relationship.
Rejection, Patience & Emotional Resilience
Through the job search, I’ve learned how to handle rejection and accept it without letting it define me. Things don’t always work out the way you hope, and rejection letters are a reminder of that. I’ve learned to reflect on each rejection, take what I can from it, and move forward without dwelling on it. Staying motivated during a long job search isn’t easy, especially when the list of applications keeps growing. Creating content, building my portfolio, and applying for jobs have helped immensely. It gives me a sense of control, keeps me learning, and reminds me that I’m actively building something even when responses are slow. It’s helped both my mental health and professional development by giving me forward momentum. I’ve also learned to recognize burnout and step back when I need to recharge, which has been essential in maintaining balance.
One of the most important takeaways from this process has been learning patience. After sending out over 70 applications since March, it’s easy to feel discouraged. My parents often remind me that what’s meant for me will come in time. I’ve learned to trust that the proper role will come when it’s supposed to, and until then, all I can do is keep connecting, keep improving, and keep showing up.
Ownership, Initiative & Self-Directed Experience
This year taught me that progress starts with ownership. I’ve realized that no one is responsible for building my career except me. Early on, I felt discouraged by my lack of formal experience, but instead of letting that stop me, I shifted my focus to what I could control. I began creating opportunities for myself by building skills independently, working on personal projects, and seeking out ways to learn outside of traditional roles. I’ve learned that experience doesn’t only come from job titles. It comes from action, curiosity, and consistency.
To support that growth, I’ve been learning how to say “yes” to challenges, even when they feel unfamiliar. I used to hesitate when asked to do something new, but once I recognized that pattern, I worked to change it. Saying yes often means researching, asking questions, and learning as I go, but it’s helped me grow more confident and adaptable. Each new challenge expands my skill set and prepares me to be a stronger professional.
Discovering Direction & Motivators
I want to build a career in content marketing. Creating both short- and long-form content energizes me, and I’ve leaned into that through personal projects and hands-on experience. While I’m confident in that direction, I’m still discovering my niche. Letting my interests guide me has been helpful, especially as I’ve realized how strongly my passion for sports aligns with content marketing. If an opportunity in sports marketing ever comes my way, it’s something I’d be excited to explore.
Letting my motivators guide me has made networking and job searching feel more authentic. Instead of chasing every opportunity, I’m learning to focus on roles and conversations that align with what genuinely excites me, which has made the process feel more intentional and fulfilling.
Gratitude & Reflection
Practicing gratitude has been a significant focus for me this year. I want to take this moment to thank everyone who has played a role in my journey. Many people offered guidance, encouragement, and opportunities to learn, even when they didn’t have to, and if you’re reading this, you know who you are. If I didn’t get the chance to thank you personally, I want to say it now. Thank you. Your support has made a lasting impact, and I wouldn’t be where I am without the people who’ve helped me along the way. I carry all of those lessons with me as I move forward.
Final Takeaways from 2025
This year taught me that growth is uncomfortable but necessary. Progress isn’t always visible, and confidence comes from proving things to yourself rather than waiting for permission, perfection, or validation. Here’s to another year of learning, growth, and continuing to show up.
Let’s Reconnect in the New Year!
If we’ve lost touch, I’d love to reconnect. If you’re navigating post-grad life, a career pivot, or uncertainty, you’re not alone. I’m always open to conversations, advice, and new opportunities as I head into the new year.
