I genuinely do not think I have ever followed through with any new year's resolutions.  Have you?  Chances are you’re not one of the 8% of people who accomplish them. Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days. I know this is an uninviting statistic but here's the punchline, in 2020, we’re not setting resolutions, we’re setting goals. 

Grit is what happens when hard work and dedication hook up and have a baby. It personifies a steely determination to get something done despite obstacles standing in your way. So many of the guests on T4C have had to cultivate grit, perhaps more than any other quality, to achieve their professional goals. But, if you’re anything like me -- a sophomore in college who is trying to figure things out -- that may seem intimidating, confusing and overwhelming to consider. Feeling like you don’t know where to start? Look no further; here are five proven ways to cultivate grit in your life.

The decisions we face as college students are unimaginable. What do I wear? Should I spend my last $6 on a beer or on a meal for dinner? These questions try us even in our weakest moments. But besides the trivial decisions we are tasked with on a day-to-day basis, we are also constantly anxious over the substantial life choices; jobs, relationships, money, complete and utter independence.

Failure, to most, seems like one of the harshest seven letter words out there. Falling far short of your goals can be a terrible feeling. But when you go off the cliff, or face plant, it is crucial to look at those moments as opportunities to grow. Not accomplishing a certain goal, can provide many insights, which can later help fuel future professional achievements! Don’t believe me? Well, take it from some of our super successful Time4Coffee podcast guests. Below are the top 5 hacks as to why failing can actually be a good thing.

Every one of my family members knew where I was going to attend college: New York. There was no question about it even when my school of choice only offered me half of the tuition; even when their scholarship program rejected me; even after receiving no response to my letter that practically begged for more financial aid. So when the financial office at my NYC dream school told me that no amount of loans could help me to afford the school, I remember calling my brother on the phone in tears, crying so hard that I could barely stand from the pain in my abdomen.

Listen up, Java Junkies. I don’t know about you, but when I see a list of episodes, all concerning health and wellness, I immediately think that what I’m getting myself into is a bunch of medical professionals telling me how awful my college lifestyle is. And yes, in a sense, that is what happened. But it was better than I thought it would be. 

It’s your senior year of college, or perhaps you’re about to finish a graduate degree. You’re one step closer to earning well-deserved paychecks at your first post-school job.  But you’re not sure what your next steps should be. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do or where to apply. Maybe you’re concerned about taking a job that could derail a career trajectory you’ve dreamed of. Or maybe you realized during college that you’re actually interested in work that isn’t related to the field you’re earning your degree in. What do you do now? First things first, don’t panic!  

I’ve always loved history and museums more than the average kid. School field trips to the Smithsonian were more than just a chance to get out of classes for me; they were a chance to learn and explore my passions in a fun and interesting way.  I thought that my fascination with museums would be a side interest, a hobby, and nothing more, until this summer when I joined Andrea, T4C’s Chief Java Junkie, during her interview this summer with the chief curator of the International Spy Museum, Dr. Alexis Albion.

While the journalistic craft can appear narrow with its heavy focus on writing and producing for the print or broadcast news media, there’s no question that as a college major it helps equip students with a diverse skill set that carries weight in countless careers. As a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism who realizes traditional, hard news journalism isn’t for me, I used to find it difficult to imagine realistic and alternative career paths.

While job prospects for today’s college graduates have improved in the last decade, since the Great Recession of 2008, securing a job out of college remains a challenge for many graduating seniors, like me. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the nation’s full-time employment rate for recent graduates hovers around 58%.  That means 2/3rd of us remain unemployed or under-employed.

If you’re a graduating senior who’s overwhelmed by the job application process, worried about your career prospects or unsure what field is right for you, breathe — you have time to figure it out. Sure, outside of extracurriculars and other internship or job opportunities, we’ve spent the vast majority of our lives in the classroom. And when graduation day comes, we’ll no longer wait for a bell to signal the end of our days. Then, we’ll be expected to enter unfamiliar territory and navigate the waters of adult life on our own. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about.   I, too, will be walking on stage to get my diploma, in just a few weeks, as a May 2019 graduate of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.  And, as of right now, I don't know what I'm going to be doing post-graduation. 

For aspiring writers and news aficionados, breaking into the field of journalism can look and feel like a formidable feat. If this sentiment applies to you, you’re not alone. The barriers to entry in the journalism profession dissuade many students and young professionals from following a traditional news career trajectory. But, with the world of journalism ever-evolving, we can take solace in good news: you don’t have to major in journalism to become a journalist.

By Abigail Tausig, GWU, junior  As a junior in college sleep is at the bottom of my to-do list. The sleep patterns of most of my peers and I at George Washington University in D.C., consist of late nights out or in the library, followed by early mornings at various classes, internships, and jobs. The read more>>>

Last summer, I was exactly where you are right now — scavenging the Internet to find any sort of advice as to how to make my transition into my first year of college less stressful. I had heard a bunch of advice from older friends and family, but I really wanted to know the few read more>>>

When I was in high school, I applied to 2 colleges I REALLY liked. I ultimately chose to apply early decision to one of them, and I was accepted. When I came home after my first semester in college, all I could think about was getting back to school. At that point, I believed I had made the right decision (which was, at that time, probably the hardest decision I’d ever made).

Maybe it’s the story-teller in me, or maybe it’s the 10 year old still inside me who made a website to save polar bears screaming to get out again, but sitting in that interview room with Raj Kumar, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Devex, made me want to stop everything I’m doing and just …save read more>>>

STRESS. Everyone has experienced it and nobody likes it. In fact, 20% of teenage males and 30% of teenage females have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder– that’s over 6 million Americans (National Institute of Mental Health). Sometimes it feels as though we can’t control the tasks piling up on our to-do list, whether it read more>>>

I don’t know about you but college brought on a whole different kind of stress than I was ever prepared for. Finals week felt like running a marathon 5 times in a row and every other minute was spent struggling between the question of studying, eating, socializing, or sleeping. Having picked up in mid-September 2017 read more>>>

Growing up, people are exposed to a variety of “normal” jobs/careers; everyone’s heard of doctors, lawyers and teachers. But, what about those jobs that just don’t get enough publicity? Like a professional iceberg mover or a dog food taste tester… Here’s a list — in no particular order– of the Top 5 Most Random Professions: read more>>>

Have you ever thought how much easier your life would be if you were a superhero? I know I have. Think of all the great superhero powers there are! Flight, invisibility, extraordinary strength and one of my favorites, the ability to breath underwater like Aquaman. Unfortunately, it’s not realistic for humans to be superheroes but read more>>>

2) Refusal of the Call: Often when the call is first received, the future heroine initially refuses to respond. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in her is or her current circumstances. read more>>>

6) The Ordeal: The critical moment in every story and a major source of magic in heroic myth.  According to Christopher Vogler (2007), “The hero stands in the deepest chamber of the inmost cave and faces a direct confrontation with her greatest fear. No matter what the hero came for, it’s Death that now stares read more>>>