Halloween is coming up, and in the spirit of the occasion, I’d like to share my favorite scene from one of the first horror movies I remember watching: the classic, Jaws. The scene is a famous one, and it stands out to me, even now. You know the one—picture an oblivious girl floating in the ocean, while a massive shark circles in the water underneath her. The shark gets closer and closer to her kicking legs; ominous theme music starts to play, signaling the imminent attack; and blood, gore, and screams ensue. The basic premise of the thrill for me was that I knew something the characters in the movie didn’t—what, where, and when the danger was.

When navigating the professional world in Real Life, being aware of where potential pitfalls lie is generally an advantage. For example, it is helpful for me to know when major deadlines coincide (I keep track in a planner), what to do with my plate when standing at a networking event (hold in my right hand and eat with my left, transfer to shake hands), and whom I can casually reference in a cover letter (network!). Being aware of one’s responsibilities is common sense, and anticipating potential challenges—the sharks lurking in murky water—allows one to maintain poise when stressed.

Don’t be daunted by the big dogs on campus or at work. You do you!

As a second-semester freshman, I thought of starting a career-focused group at Scripps that was similar to one already established at another of the 5C’s. I didn’t have what I considered official, authoritative, resume-worthy experience. So while my idea was in its beginning stages, I contacted the two students who led the other club to set up what I thought would be a helpful, informative meeting. Unfortunately, that was not my experience—the two students drilled me, questioning my experience and intentions. They refused to discuss how they had raised funds or how they had found support in the 5C and larger Claremont community. The meeting ended with them overtly warning me, “We just want you to know what you’re up against.” I’d considered the possibility they’d be wary of me, but I didn’t expect to feel like I’d just been hit over the head with a rock.

Unfortunate experiences aside, there are times when the old adage, “Ignorance is bliss” applies. Within reason, there can very real benefits to not knowing one’s limits. In my experience, this has led to my jumping the gun, metaphorically speaking. For example, I requested and received permission to take a business law class at CMC as a second-semester sophomore. On my second day of class, I realized that I was the only Scripps student and the only sophomore in the class—it was widely considered a senior-level course at CMC. I sincerely don’t intend this to brag; I enrolled because it never crossed my mind that I couldn’t, and nobody told me I shouldn’t. (Please always discuss your academic goals with the relevant folks first!)

Last year I attended job fairs where, as a freshman in a room of upperclassmen, I was alternately commended or completely ignored by recruiters. At my internship at the Williamson Gallery this summer, I was the youngest in the group by two academic years and three years of age. (In a previous post, Emma shares what she learned from the higher-ups during her internship). I felt inexperienced compared my older, well-traveled peers and expressed my doubts to my supervisor. She responded, “Don’t worry. We hired you for a reason.”I am writing this post to remind you all, especially freshmen and those of you who consider yourselves relatively lacking in experience, that there are upsides to your position. Go ahead and jump the gun. Stand on the shoulders of the giants you know. Learn from others’ mistakes, instead of suffering the pain of your own. You don’t have to be an expert to lead a club, take classes with older students, compete with more seasoned applicants for jobs and internships, or interact with those in positions of power and authority. Not knowing the ropes can be freeing, and for many, your youth heightens the significance of your achievements.

What challenges did you survive in your early days at Scripps, in a group or organization, or at a job? How has jumping the gun, so to speak, benefited or disadvantaged you?