This is a guest post by Tyrus Jones for InternMatch’s Student Stories. If you’re interested in getting involved with Student Stories, learn more here.
If you’re like me, then you don’t want to wait until you graduate from college to start making a decent living for yourself. The problem with this is that we live in a world where it’s nearly impossible to just bump into an opportunity that can propel you to the next level. There are no handouts—everything must be earned.
If you research (namely Google) the word “Trailblazer,” you might see something to the effect of “A person who makes a new track through wild country.” It’s simple; in order to graduate as a leader and entitle yourself to compete with others in your field, you must trail blaze your way through college. It all begins while you’re in this stage—networking, branding, and of course educating yourself all begins here. I know this because I am a witness; I have yet to graduate, but I have already made some connections that will help me far beyond my tenure as a student.
I have always been the type of person with major aspirations. Since elementary school, I have really only had one dream—to be a successful talk show host. I’m not remotely close to where I’d like to be, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t prepare myself for the opportunity. I started my first business at the age of 17, and since then I have started two more companies and also managed to work a full-time job, part-time job, and also maintain a steady GPA in school. As with most good things, it took me a while to get to this point, and although the journey has been far from easy, it has been worth every moment.
Luckily, I was able to get my first job at the age of 15; this was definitely a turning point in my life as I have not stopped working since I started! It definitely motivated me to chase better opportunities, and thankfully that’s what I’ve been able to do.When I graduated high school, I completed a semester of college and then decided to pack up and move to Atlanta on my own because I thought that this was the next phase for me, I really believed that I would be able to move to this city by myself and magically make my career happen—boy was I sadly mistaken! Don’t get me wrong, it was worth every day of the nearly two years that I managed to make it, but the struggle was not fun. After working minimum-waged jobs to stay afloat, I took some time to self-reflect and figure what I wanted out of life. It was at this point that I decided to pack up, move home, and start from scratch again.
Of course, I received major backlash from my family; not for moving back, but for even leaving in the first place, but I felt that I had to make the best decision for me. The same applies to you; if there is an opportunity that you want or a dream that you feel you need to chase, by all means do that. Life is far too short to wonder what could happen if you did one thing or another, simply go for it! While it wasn’t the time for me to fulfill my dreams in Atlanta, it was definitely meant for me to have that experience, because it enabled me to realize what I do want out of life, and what I need to do to make that happen.
Since my move back, I have managed to re-enroll in school and maintain an excellent GPA, as well as earn two great jobs with two amazing companies. First, I am a Catalog & Web Analyst for J. Crew, and secondly I work in the promotions department for Clear Channel Communications/iHeartRadio. Both of these jobs have spawned amazing opportunities; I am currently working on an online radio show that I am producing and hosting, and it’s scheduled to debut in just a few weeks!
My point is that we all have goals and dreams, and there will be bumps in the road that attempt to hinder us away from our destination; however, you must remain committed, follow your passion, and let life lead you as it may.
At the end of the day if you can say that you’ve tried your hardest and given it your all, no one can take that away from you and that is an accomplishment all within itself. The best way to learn is from experience, and the best way to experience something new is to remain fearless and dive in head first. In the end, it will all be worth it.
Now get out there, chase your dreams, and let’s change the world!
About the Author:
Tyrus is a Virginia native with a unique spirit and a passion for learning. As a Media Communications student at Full Sail University, he has experience contributing to various blogs and making radio appearances nationwide. At the present, Tyrus is working to complete his Bachelor’s degree while simultaneously building his empire and reputation as a successful media mogul. At any given moment, you can catch Tyrus either preparing for an interview, or planning out his next road trip, as traveling is his favorite hobby. Tyrus has successfully founded an event planning firm, Memoirs Event Planning Services, and he has also received acclaim as a motivational speaker for youth groups. He is currently dedicating his time to molding his next project, Jones Media Networks. You can also find him on Facebook.
