Who Do You Think You Are?

Get to know yourself.

If you haven’t taken the time to really look within yourself and figure out what you truly care about in life, please take the time to do that. Better to know who you are now than in 10 years after a breakdown (speaking from experience.) Knowing your core values will be important when you decide to start your career. You will need to know yourself and your boundaries before you get invested in this industry, or any career honestly.

I highly recommend reading Steering by Starlight and doing the worksheets associated with the book. It’s some hippie shit, I’ll be real with you, but it’s very helpful when it comes to diving into your subconscious.

It’s important to have a strong sense of self so you don’t let people manipulate or outright pressure you in ways you don’t expect. And the pressure can be immense.

Get a journal.

Writing out your experiences can bring clarity. It can also show you where you’re stuck. Sometimes you’ll have things that weigh on you that you may not want to discuss with anyone, and that’s okay. If you live in a space where you feel that the privacy of a physical journal will not be respected, use a password-protected Word or Pages document. Don’t hold onto it, write it out and learn to let things go.

Find a therapist.

Find a therapist because you will need it. Working in this industry can be very difficult and there may be times that you need full confidentiality with the person you vent to (because it’s illegal for them to share what is disclosed during a session). Having a therapist to help you navigate every stage of your career, and can be a great way to keep your mind sharp and clear when times get tough.

If you can’t afford a therapist through out of pocket or through insurance, you can still go to places like SCCC for sliding scale sessions. You can get a therapist on a sliding scale for as little as $5 per session, if not free depending on your financial situation.