When I started my first year at Western, I was completely unaware that my current ‘dream role’ existed. Selecting a university program that funnels into your desired career is a considerable task for a high school student to make. Yet, it is one that many students complete without question. I chose my program, MIT, because it appeared applicable and relevant to today’s social climate in terms of how technology influences our activities and behaviours. Although I enjoyed the variety of courses I took during first year, I was still feeling lost in knowing what I wanted to pursue after graduating.
Discovering Interests in Non-Conventional Ways
During the summer after first year, I encountered the terms ‘UX design’ and ‘product management’ for the first time through a creator on a social media platform. The creator I came across began her career as a product designer and transitioned into product management in big tech. Prior to learning about these roles, I held a stereotypical, inaccurate perspective about the tech sector, believing that the only roles people occupied were either software engineers or developers. However, these myths were quickly dispelled when I began watching her videos as she shed light on various non-traditional tech roles one can pursue. I instantly became drawn to her content, curious to learn more about the day-to-day work her position demanded. I started to notice that we shared similar qualities, as she did not graduate from university with a technical degree like computer science, despite working in the tech field. Eager to learn more about these non-traditional, creative roles, I further researched the skills needed to succeed in the field. I was excited to have finally discovered an area I saw myself enjoying and excelling in after graduation. The unconventional way I discovered the tech world showcases how interests can arise in ways you may not expect. Have a strong understanding of your strengths, and your curiosity will lead you to discover new paths.
Taking Your Learning Beyond the Classroom
When I was applying for summer internships during first year, I had yet to discover my interest in tech, so I applied to a wide variety of roles and accepted my job offer before having any previous knowledge about the world of UX design. Naturally, I realized that the work I was completing was very applicable to the creative, product-focused roles that fascinated me. My main task throughout the summer was to aid an organization with its website redesign project. Such a task required prioritizing the user, strong writing skills, and being detail-oriented, all of which are transferable to product design. Alongside this work, I completed the Google UX Design Certificate to maximize my knowledge in this newly found area of interest. I think one of the most important ways to understand and capitalize upon your strengths is to take your learning beyond the classroom. It is without question that Western offers a wide variety of courses; however, applying your interests beyond school provides an invaluable perspective that can help you realize whether or not a role is right for you.
Being Open to Change
My brief summary of how I became interested in the tech space leads me to where I am today. The key takeaway I want to highlight is that uncertainty around your career interests is not unusual. Ultimately, I think you can leverage this uncertainty and use it to your advantage by taking diverse courses and exploring various roles and interests through jobs and extracurriculars. I recognize that some people have always known exactly what area they want to pursue, which is also great! However, not everyone can fit into that narrow category. At the current rate of technological advancement, it’s likely that roles in the tech space I may encounter a few years down the road don't even exist right now. So, I have learned to cut myself some slack when it comes to facing career uncertainty, and it’s important you do as well. Be comfortable switching courses and programs if you realize that your interests align with a different area of study. The program decision your high school self made does not have to be a permanent one. Be open to learning, and your passions will follow.