I didn’t know what I wanted to do after graduation. I had a degree in Integrated Marketing Communication, which meant I had a lot of options and yet not a clue which path to take. Did I want to pursue marketing? Advertising? Media? Public Relations? The list was endless. Having a lot of options might seem like a blessing, but to me, it was overwhelming. 

 

Six months after graduation, I started my journey as a Junior Account Executive for Social Media and Public Relations at a digital media agency. As time went on, it became clear to me that I was more interested in Public Relations. However, 6 months into the job, I found myself going in the opposite direction, towards the digital marketing sector. I was offered a promotion to become a Senior Account Executive.

 

I was lost, confused, and not sure whether or not to take this promotion. Deciding to take it was a life changing experience. With more authority came more responsibilities. I didn’t know then that this would be the first step to unlocking a new skill that I would soon grow to love and succeed at: management.

 

At this stage in my early career I constantly had mixed feelings, between being completely lost and very satisfied. I was lost because I was going in a completely different direction than where I had planned to be at this point in my life. But at the same time I was satisfied and proud of myself for excelling in a different field. My life had taken an expected turn, but shockingly I found myself enjoying and excelling in something I hadn’t thought of before. 

 

After a couple of months of winning pitches, handling clients, executing on ground and online campaigns, this fast-paced industry threw me a new opportunity. Six months later, one year into  the company, I was asked to be an Account Manager.

 

Who can pass on an opportunity like that, right? I went from an account executive handling 5 accounts to an account manager handling 4 executives, 20 accounts, managing clients, creating internal strategies and objectives, and so on. This, to me, was a milestone, a goal achieved, and a dream come true. I never thought I would work as an Account Manager handling huge clients, and succeeding, at the age of 22. Of course there are ups and downs, and sometimes I rethink all of my previous decisions, but then I realize that never giving up made me reach my goal faster than I thought I would. It helped me figure out a huge part of my career personality and actually move forward.

 

So no matter where life takes you, no matter what roads you paint for yourself, you might find completely different opportunities being thrown at you, things that you had never thought of or had planned for. Take them! Try it out; if you don’t like it then you now know you don’t, but don’t paint a picture with basic colors. This is your career, your upcoming chapters, so make it worth it and be as spontaneous as possible. The road will always lead you where you should be if you let it.

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