Ways to Survive When You're a Small Fish in a Big Pond: A Guide to University Life
- Katy McQuillan
- Mar 12, 2018
- 4 min read
The phrase “small fish in a big pond” stems from someone who might be shy, unsure of their life plan or even a goal they are trying to pursue after graduation. It can be someone from a small town who moved to a big city to attend their university.
College is a scary thing. A lot of high school students aren’t even beginning to think about what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing, if/where they want to go to college, or what college that is. College advisers – those people who tell you what classes you need to take to complete a degree in whatever you want to do – have a hard job because they are supposed to assist college students in thinking about a future career.
Granted, students can always change their minds, but it’s best (and easier) to think of a brilliant plan and stick with it. At the end of the day, you need a degree in something to have most jobs. Looking back, I wish I would have found someone in my high school whose job was in the same industry as mine. I would ask them about their journey after college and what their professional plans were. I think I would have met more people to learn from and have in my network.
Ways to survive if you are a small fish in a big pond is by having a clear-cut vision on what you want to do. However, if you have small doubts or anxieties, do not allow that to scare you away from your dreams. There are ways to be a small representation at a big place.
Once you have a clear vision on what you want, find other people who may have the same plans that might be going to the same school before you get there. As scary as it can be, join the university clubs that will enhance your academic experience. Find the types of organizations that will further the experience you gain in your degree.
Make friends with your teachers. This might sound lame or confusing, but your teachers – whether they teach your science course, or in my case maybe your public relations course – can be some of your biggest cheerleaders while you get your degree. You will be able to bounce ideas off them, discuss issues going on in your field, talk about any stresses that are going on within your degree plan they may be able to help with. If you’re lucky like I was, they’ll be hard on you and make you better after you are finished taking their course. If all else fails, you might have a better chance of getting an A in their class if they know you and see you working hard on the workload they give you.
Make friends in your classes. I work on not being quiet and not flying under the radar in my classes. Depending on the setting of the class, I try and make friends in those classes for my degree because those peers might come in handy one day. You never know when they can help you on a school assignment or point you in the right direction for a professional project you are working on.
Look for professionals in the real world who do what you want to do. Doing this has helped me learn more just about the people in the reporting world. They sometimes give a real-life and not-so-glamorous glimpse into their schedules. They don’t have to have the exact occupation you want, but it can be in the same industry.
If you are getting a Communications degree, look to follow bloggers, television hosts, television personalities, talk show hosts, journalists, etc. If you are an education major, follow teachers, join teacher groups on social media, go up to the local high school and see if they will mentor you.
Follow those people in your field on social media, watch any television specials they may do, look for their work other places and read their books. They were you once when they were looking for a place in this world. Their books talk about their upbringing, who has been the biggest influence on their decisions, they give unsolicited advice, share “behind-the-scenes” secrets about things going on their audience didn’t know about and share stories about lessons they learned along the way.
One thing I will include is that when life gets rough at school – whatever that looks like and however often that happens make sure you cling to your support system. Your parents or any awesome and genuine friendships you have, those people who know you the best, can and would probably love nothing more than to send you encouragement. They will be the ones to remind you of why you are doing what you set out to do, give you a pep talk, cheer you on, suggest ways to lower your stress level when your schedule gets a little too crazy for you or give you a scenario on what could happen if you didn’t pursue your dreams.
If there is anything you don’t grasp from this post, take one thing away: do not give up. There is a reason you are at the school you are at, chasing the dreams that are in your heart in that city you fell in love with. Or maybe if you are one of those students who don’t like the city you are in, there was something you loved about the university you chose. Point is, at one time, you decided in your heart of hearts that school is where you would be able to gain the knowledge needed to prepare you for your future career. Do not give up.
(If you need a little advice on learning how to be proactive, click here.)
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