THE DAILY ILLINI
Career Guide February 1, 2021
ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILY ILLINI
Monday, February 1, 2021
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The Daily Illini
The Daily Illini
Monday, February 1, 2021
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To seniors: Trust process, learn to accept failure BY MATTHEW BEYER STAFF WRITER
My fellow senior Illini: This is the last dance, the last semester before facing the realities of an intimidating work world or intense graduate program. Given your drive to even make it this far, you likely have some goals for yourself moving forward. These aspirations may include some measure of success in your given field, whether it be a high rank or high salary. While I know we are all high-fliers all aiming for the stars, I want to exercise caution on getting ahead of yourself. Unless you hit the lottery or you are David Dobrik, you are not guaranteed success and wealth in your 20s. Life gives no guarantees, but you can increase your chances of landing that prestigious job or apartment you’ve been dreaming of by lowering your expectations. Realize that this process of life, especially in your 20s, is an ongoing journey. “The Great Gatsby” is a fantastic cautionary tale of the perils of expectations. As the story goes, Jay Gatsby throws grandiose party after grandiose party in order to grab the attention of his long-lost love interest, Daisy. Each night Gatsby would look out of his window at a green light at the end of Daisy’s dock, longing for her. However, when he finally gets Daisy in his house, Gatsby is faced with intense disappointment. He finds that the reality of actually meeting Daisy pales in comparison to the romanticized, flawless
expectation he had of her while looking at the green light. This light, which also represents the mystified and unreachable nature of the American dream, is a symbol of how real life will never live up to how we imagine things. This is a cautionary tale on managing your expectations. Realize that the success you are longing for is a lot like Gatsby’s idealization of meeting Daisy, and it likely will not be the end-all-be-all. Also, success is not going to come in some pretty, flawless package. Instead, it should be the journey along the way that you live for. Instead of truly enjoying his extravagant lifestyle, Gatsby would idealize how much better it would be if Daisy were there to enjoy it with him. Rather than chasing something unattainable, find a way to enjoy whatever part of the path you are on right now. I promise you; the success will come later. Although Gatsby’s unrealistic expectations were ultimately what caused him to feel defeated, he perhaps did not have the same pressures around us that we do today. Today, social media is our green light. Everything posted on social media is shown through a filter in which you are seeing somebody at their prettiest, healthiest and perhaps happiest. This, in turn, gives us false expectations of what our own lives should look like. We only see the product of peoples’ success rather than the struggle along the way. This leads us to believe that we are
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
the only ones experiencing these unpleasant realities. What social media doesn’t show you is the beauty in learning from life’s defeating moments. The attractive, successful influencers you may compare yourself to
have had their own unique journey full of ups and downs, too. Matthew is a senior in AHS mebeyer2@dailyillini.com
Use these websites to find internships in a pandemic ed in. Finally, carving out your profile is the equivalent to filling out a resume. You can For a lot of us, this summer is a second turn your profile data into a resume. Most chance to get back on our feet career-wise. internships will even allow you to simply With the pandemic unexpectedly canceling apply with your profile. many internships (including mine), a lot of us have fallen behind. Luckily, vaccines are being distributed and things are starting to look up, somewhat. In the meantime, most Glassdoor is great for determining whether internships are likely to be online. You might a company is suitable for you or not. Glassbe asking yourself, how can I find intern- door allows users to post reviews about their ships? There are a lot of websites to use, but employees, as well as insights into the hiring here are some to continue your job search. and interviewing processes. It is especially helpful to prevent yourself from interviewing for a company that does not align with your wants and values. You can easily find jobs If you do not have a LinkedIn profile, it and internships with some quick searching. is highly recommended that you have one. The best thing about LinkedIn is the ability to network and view potential employers. Additionally, you can search for a wide Provided by the University, Handshake is variety of jobs, most that you would not be a great resource for finding jobs, especially able to find on other platforms. Adjusting ones that are local. Students are able to crethe search settings to filter out internships ate a profile that auto-fills with their student that do not meet your criteria is especially information. Hiring managers of different helpful in finding jobs you would be interest- companies come to Handshake to recruit BY MEGHAN LYONS
SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
Glassdoor
Handshake
KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI
potential applicants for positions. Often times, you will find your mailbox flooded with invitations to career events and job opportunities. Similar to LinkedIn, Handshake is fairly simple to use and you can easily filter out internships that do not match your major or field of interests. Be sure to double-check the dates of some of the job listings, though, as often some are expired or already filled.
Indeed
More suitable for full-time jobs, Indeed is an online job board with endless pages of jobs to skim through. The application process is uncomplicated, and you can save your resume. If you are impatient with applications and want to mass apply to jobs, users have the ability to quick-apply to some jobs. However, this is not the case for all jobs, but you can find quite a few easy apply opportunities. Meghan is a junior in LAS mslyons2@dailyillini.com
Monday, February 1, 2021
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Nail your next Zoom interview, get that job BY ALLISON CONNELLY STAFF WRITER
With summertime rapidly approaching, this is a great time to start thinking about possible summer internships and job positions. However, these applications coincide with the dreadful interview process. Interviews in their very nature can be anxiety-inducing, especially if you are not adequately prepared. On the other hand, there is one upside to this world being turned upsidedown within the past year: Interviews are being held online. Zoom interviews hold many benefits, a major one being that you can answer daunting questions from your (possible) future employer from the comfort of your own living room. Here are some tips and tricks to nail your online interview:
pany operates, as well as highlight any questions you may have.
Have notes prepared in another tab
One of the many upsides to interviewing online is that you have access to your computer during the interview. That being said, you can prepare notes and important information about yourself that you want to tell the interviewer in another tab to make sure you do not forget them! This tactic can help with things such as dates in which you held other positions, exact titles of positions, etc. You can also prepare notes for potential questions that the employer may ask. One way to properly prepare for these questions is to gather your responses for common questions that might be asked. You should also prepare yourself for One of the most important aspects of any specific questions by doing a bit of research with interview is to present yourself in the best way a simple Google search. possible. Therefore, make sure you are wearing a button-up and tie or a nice blouse. Making sure you do not have bed-head is also a plus. On the bright side, you can wear sweatpants on the bottom and the interviewer will never know! Lastly, it is essential that during any interview process that you present yourself confidently. You are trying to sell yourself at this time, and no one is going to believe that you are a good fit for a company if you do not believe in yourself first. During the interview, expect the company to You will need to speak confidently and clearly ask you questions such as “Why do you think in order for the company to not just understand you’re a good fit for Company A?” and “Tell us you but to also see that you are serious and sure a little about why you are interested in our com- about your abilities. pany.” Therefore, it’s a good idea to look over the description for the job you are applying for, as Allison Connelly is a senior in LAS. well as the company’s website. Doing this can aconne5@dailyillini.com also help you better understand how the com-
Dress appropriately
Speak confidently and clearly
Read over the employer’s website/job description
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Perfect your resume, stand out to employers BY SAMANTHA ROBERSON
In a world full of applicant tracking softwares and job description keywords, it can be hard to stand out as a job applicant, even if you meet the qualifications. The job search is similar to a video game, and here are some tips on how to win.
Adjust your resume for each position
If you’re uploading the same resume for each position, you’re doing it all wrong. After reading a job or internship description, you should edit your resume to reflect the keywords used in the posting. Many companies use an ATS, meaning if certain words aren’t in your resume, it’s immediately tossed out. Just remember when editing your resume to always be truthful about the experience and skills you have. If the edits end up making your resume more than one page, go back and delete points that aren’t relevant to the job. Lastly, don’t forget to always keep your original resume.
Always submit a cover letter, even if not required PHOTO COURTESY OF MIKE CARDEW, AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
David Hamilton of Akron, Ohio listens during a Zoom meeting on Jan. 13. It is a good idea to research a company before you interview with them.
found in the job description.
MANAGING EDITOR FOR ONLINE
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date
If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, go make one right now. A lot of hiring managers use LinkedIn to not only recruit employees but also to find out more information about applicants. You can also use it to network with people who work at companies you’re interested in.
Get your resume reviewed
You’re probably proud of your resume, but that doesn’t mean it can’t use some tweaks. The Career Center does resume reviews where they can help with formatting, what to include, and how to better describe your experience and qualifications. This semester they’re offered via Zoom on a first come, first served basis.
Prep for an interview
Interviewing can be nerve wracking. Even if you’re extremely qualified, if the interview doesn’t go well, there goes your opportunity. You can prepare for interviews by writing down responses to commonly asked interview quesCover letters can be tedious, but oftentimes tions and coming up with a few questions to ask it’s what sets you apart from other applicants. after the interview. In a cover letter, you have the opportunity to elaborate on your experience and address any points of weakness in your resume. It also gives Samantha is junior in Media you another chance to use those keywords sdr4@dailyillini.com
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Don’t let fear deter you from your perfect job BY SHIVALI SHUKLA ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
I quit the Daily Illini my freshman year because I was scared. As a result, I missed out on two years of incredible experiences, until I decided to face my fears and return. But I will never get those two years back, and I certainly regret letting fear make that choice for me. My easiest moments have been my least memorable. I don’t remember every single calm, boring moment. I remember the time I was eight and I had been scared by a thunderstorm, only to learn after it was over that I didn’t have to be so terrified of a little rain. At 14, I was afraid of transferring schools, only to then love that experience more than anything. Fear, I have learned, is what we feel when something important to us is at stake. It means we care, and caring is good. Caring is what makes you good at what you do. People always tell us to do what we love; we should follow our dreams and pick a career that we would adore every single day. But choosing a job you love doesn’t necessitate choosing a job that’s easy, or even always fun. What if we were to choose a job we’re most afraid of? What if we were to seek out a job we think we could love even
THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Career Center employee Shoptorshi Rahman, walks through a sample resume with student Alexis Young on Jan. 24, 2019. Choosing a path that you slightly fear is often a wise decision.
when we would end up absolutely hating it? Maybe we should use fear to give ourselves the chance to grow and face our anxieties, to strengthen our pride in ourselves, to come out of the other end a better person, to pick a job to love and to cherish in sickness and in health.
I’m not anyone who can tell someone what to and what not to be afraid of; I don’t have the wisdom to really guide anyone on anything. On top of that, I’m still scared of a lot of things. Like jellyfish. But I remind myself every day to not be afraid of hard work, of new things, of change, of the unknown, of things that naturally scare me … of jellyfish. If I let fear guide all of my decisions, I wouldn’t be here; I wouldn’t be writing this, I probably wouldn’t be at this university and I would’ve missed out on a lot of opportunities. So as you traverse the road to your destined career, look at the opportunities that scare you as some of the best things to come your way. Use the butterflies in your stomach to propel you forward and as a reminder that what you are doing is important to you. Something real and something momentous is at stake for you. Fear is a sign that something in your life could become better than it already is, and I truly believe that facing your fears as you find yourself and build your career will only make you more successful. Don’t be afraid of fear; it means you’re on the right path.
Fear is what drives us to do better, to be better. But only when we don’t let it inhibit us. Fear can control us, or it can open doors for us. We’re often afraid of change and afraid of reaching outside our comfort zones, but it is only after we push ourselves to face Shivali is a senior in AHS our fears that we can experience growth. sshukl5@dailyillini.com
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Let your personality be your career adviser Discover more about yourself through Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator BY SHIVALI SHUKLA ASSISTANT SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR
If someone tells you to think of a shy kid on a playground at recess, you might have a specific memory that comes to mind. It might be of your now best friend who took ages to get comfortable around you. It might be someone who didn’t have a lot of friends in class but is now a major leader in a wellknown startup, or it might even be a memory of yourself not knowing how to approach the other kids. Chances are, whoever came to mind was, and still might be, an introvert. But as kids, we often don’t understand that different people have different personalities, and these unique differences in personality influence our individual behaviors. They pave the way for our future and impact every choice we make, including our career. Our personalities affect more in our lives than we probably realize. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, a thinker or a feeler, your personality type probably influences more important outcomes in your life than you think. That also means your personality might make you better suited for a certain career over another. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a personality test backed by scientific theory that might offer insight into what career path you should pursue. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is based on a theory that essentially describes how seemingly random variations in behavior
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Patrons of Brew Lab have a conversation over coffee on Feb. 18. Analyzing aspects of your personality can be an aid in choosing a career that’s right for you.
can be attributed to the ways in which people perceive things and use their judgment. There are four categories that the MyersBriggs personality test judges you on: Extraversion vs. Introversion (E/I): Do you get energized by people around you or are you happier being alone? Sensing vs. Intuition (S/N): Are you detail-oriented and focused on finding factual evidence to back claims or a big picture person more interested in the deeper meanings of things? Thinking vs. Feeling (T/F): Are you a logical thinker or do you make decisions based on how you feel? Judging vs. Perceiving (J/P): Do you prefer structure and consistency or are you spontaneous and tend to go with the flow? These pillars of personality are said to determine the ways in which you behave, the relationships you form, the hobbies you take part in and a lot more. There are ultimately 16 different personality types that fall under four umbrella categories: Analysts, Diplomats, Sentinels and Explorers. Each of the 16 personality types is described to be suited for certain careers based on the strengths and weaknesses associated with each one.
For example, extroverts may feel more comfortable pursuing a career that warrants a lot of interpersonal interactions, like teaching, whereas an introvert may prefer a more solo career, such as research. So if you’re not sure what kind of career you want, maybe diving deeper into your personality can tell you more about what should make you happy long term. Or, if you’re already decided, understanding your personality better might help you assess your choice from a different perspective. Taking the test helped me to learn more about myself and gain more confidence in my chosen career path. After finding out your personality type, the test will tell you what kinds of jobs you are best suited for. For anyone who might be on the fence about what to even consider, finding out what your Myers-Briggs personality type says about you might offer some options you can explore further and potentially flourish in. Something on their list of suggestions could turn out to be a job you love. At the very least, you get more insight into what kinds of behaviors your personality type is expected to engage in, and it’s all based on scientific theory. It’s not a Buzzfeed
quiz telling you what house to buy or which Disney royalty you should date. In other cases, circumstances might put you in a position where you take on a job you can’t seem to find the silver lining in. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can tell you important details about your personality type that can help you not only get through a tough job but also excel in it. There’s solace to find in knowing what your strengths and weaknesses are. If you’re clever, you can utilize what you learn about yourself to succeed even in a career you never saw yourself in. Choosing a career path can feel daunting, and when the answer doesn’t come to you immediately, finding out more about yourself first can sometimes make decisions like that much clearer. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator can’t tell you what to do, and it’s not some psychic that seems to know you or your future. Plus, sometimes aspects of our personalities change. But it can definitely tell you where you might thrive and offer some insight into what you might want to consider, completely based on your personality. Shivali is a senior in AHS sshukl5@dailyillini.com
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Dress to impress for your next Zoom interview a nice pair of jeans could also suffice. And the white shirt and go for a darker color so even if you do not go all out with the slacks you stand out. From the time I started applying for jobs or jeans for this interview, changing out of in high school until now, when I am about the sweatpants you have been in for the past to graduate college and enter the job mar- couple of days might be a good idea. ket with a degree, I have always been told, This does not necessarily have much to “dress for the job you want, not the job you do with what you are wearing, but rather have.” Sure, that makes a lot of sense, but where you are placing yourself. It is imporit is always pretty vague and does not realtant to find a space in your living area where ly give you many ideas of what to wear to you can do an interview and keep your suran interview. On top of that, many interThis could arguably be one of the more roundings professional. For example, the views are now being moved to video calls, important choices you will have to make for desk in my room is in front of a wall where I so “dressing for the job you want” could now your Zoom interview because it will be the just put up a bunch of posters and art that a be pajama pants with a blouse and blazer. most visible. Obviously, you should not be hiring committee most likely would not want Below are some tips for how to look profes- putting on some old t-shirt from the back of to see. Maybe I could risk it and hope one of sional on any interview. your closet or the old hoodie you just threw in them is a Harry Styles fan, but I do not think your laundry. Instead, go for a classic blouse I would or should risk that. It is best to find or button down. Again, being on video brings a neutral wall or neutral background that some new challenges. Some patterns that is not too distracting from you. You are the If you have an interview over a video call, it may have worked in an in-person setting may main event for this interview and you do not could be easy and tempting to just roll out of be too busy for a video call and can actual- want a wall or background to outshine you. bed, do your hair, change your shirt and that ly become distracting. Small, busy patterns If finding a neutral background is difficult, is it. If you value comfort, it’s a great idea. should probably be skipped and saved for you can always hang up a plain white sheet However, for others, getting on a good pair when you can be back in an office. A good behind you and use that. And always avoid of pants may help you feel more put together solid color is probably your best bet. It may the built in green screen backgrounds. Good and therefore help you nail your interview. also be helpful to check out your background luck with your interview! Usually, good pants for interviews could and make sure the color you wear does not be some black, khaki or dark blue slacks. blend into the background and wash you Samantha is a senior in Media. Depending on the job you are applying for, out. If your background is a white wall, skip sjboyle2@dailyillini.com BY SAMANTHA BOYLE
MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING
Zoom backgrounds
Blouses, button downs and blazers
Sweatpants or slacks?
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Reinvigorate your at-home work space BY NOAH DAVIS STAFF WRITER
With the current historic circumstances, many 2021 graduates will start their jobs working remotely from home. As a result, making improvements to your work space is essential to improve comfort and overall pleasantness during work. Of course, the kind of equipment every individual needs for their workspace ultimately depends on the particular machinations of their job. Now more than ever, your office is your brand-new dwelling for the time being. Fortunately, there are ways to make working from home marginally more bearable.
Ultraviolet light therapy lamps
Working at home has resulted in spending an inordinate amount of time indoors, leaving many to grapple with negative effects, especially regarding mental health. Interestingly enough, there are ultraviolet, or UV, light therapy lamps to help those who live in areas where sunlight is severely limited. UV light therapy lamps can prevent vitamin D deficiency and seasonal affective disorder, or SAD — a fitting acronym for seasonal depression.
Keep your workplace organized
Organization is essential to working directly from home, especially when you’re in your office 24/7. To help keep your desk and work space clean, I would suggest going full Marie Kondo on cord organization. Things get tangled, which is an intrusive, irritating nuisance, so grab yourself an EVEO cable management sleeve to keep all those pesky wires out of your line of sight.
Invest in a good monitor
To give yourself more screen space to view multiple tabs and reference several programs simultaneously, I highly recommend investing in an external monitor that connects to your laptop. You can choose to either rely on the monitor alone, turning your laptop into a desktop, or give yourself the setup of a wannabe Robinhood trader and use both. Purchase a fairly priced high-quality 24-inch HP monitor on Amazon if you feel it might boost your productivity. You won’t regret the upgrade.
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A student works at a station in the PAR Computer Lab on April 28. Keeping your workplace organized is key in being productive.
Keep your health in check
This goes a long way in preventing slouching and straining your neck and shoulders throughout the day. Then, to help with posture, adjust your keyboard to a height where your elbows are bent at 90 degrees to prevent your shoulders from slumping.
According to an article from Penn Medicine, there are a few ways to modify your work space for comfort that combats back pain associated with being sedentary all day. First, set up your screen so the top of it is at eye level, preclud- Noah is a senior in Business. ing the need to continue looking up and down. noahd3@dailyillini.com
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Make a good first impression at your next interview BY ZAINAB QURESHI LONGFORM EDITOR
Whether it’s a first date, a partner project or a job interview, forming a solid first impression can make all the difference. However, in today’s COVID-19 world, that can be a little harder to accomplish. Here are some basic tips to help land that job, grade or “romantic bestie.”
Be on time
Being punctual doesn’t require any talent and it’s an easy way to avoid stepping off on the wrong foot. For a Zoom call, be ready and completely prepared at least 10 minutes before. This can eliminate potential technical difficulties, WiFi issues and this also gives you enough time to contact the other person if you find out you don’t have the link. If it’s an in-person meeting, similar guidelines apply; getting there a little before can eliminate traffic issues and missed turns. Just remember, getting there early makes you on time and getting there on time makes you late.
dress, but it does mean changing out of your sweatpants and that old t-shirt you sometimes go to sleep in. It also means taking care of your personal hygiene; dirt under your nails, greasy hair and bad breath aren’t going to do you any favors. Make sure you’ve gotten the sleep out of your eyes and put on a clean outfit that you feel confident in.
Put in the work and pay attention
Do your research on a company before the interview. What are their mission statements? What are the projects they’re currently working on? Casually mention their current community endeavors and projects while also aligning your answers with their mission statements. On a date? Pay attention to what the other person likes and talks about and bring it back up in conversation later on. In both instances, take note of the other person’s body language and demeanor. Whether you’re in a professional or social environment, matching the energy of the other person can go a long way. Overall, show you care, be passionate about Dressing to impress doesn’t necessarily what you do and put your best foot forward. mean you have to pull out your nicest suit or It can be hard to make a lasting impression
Dress to impress
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Engineering students talk to company representatives at the Engineering Career Fair at the ARC on Sept. 11, 2018. Dressing appropriately is crucial to interview success.
on someone, especially these days. Hopefully, Zainab is a junior in Media these pointers give you a good starting place. zqures7@dailyillini.com
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Obsession, drive act as key motivators in life Become next big tech CEO by focusing on unconventional BY MEGHAN LYONS SPECIAL SECTION’S EDITOR
So you think you have what it takes to become the next big tech CEO? Given our ranked engineering program, this is not an unrealistic goal. UI’s campus is no stranger to educating many tech entrepreneurs, such as YouTube co-Founder Jawed Karim and PayPal co-Founder Max Levchin. The University of Illinois is constantly brooding with innovative students of all sorts, with a wide variety of tech innovation RSO’s for students to join. Undoubtedly, innovation and creativity are imperative for a career in tech entrepreneurship — but it’s not where it got Tesla CEO Elon Musk, now the richest man in the world, to where he is now. A lot of people want to be like Elon Musk and it’s also easy to envy people like Elon Musk. There is no other person in history so far that has had the power to pump up stocks and crypto with a single tweet. It is hard not to think — how, of all people, did Elon Musk get to where he is seemingly effortlessly? You cannot become any other Bill Gates or Elon Musk by working as hard as possible. The answer is simple: It’s being wired differently. In response to a question regarding the path to being a billionaire on Quora, former
wife of Elon Musk, Justine Musk, asserts that extreme success comes from unconventional personalities. “One reason they become the entrepreneurs they become is because they can’t or don’t or won’t fit into the structures and routines of corporate life,” the former wife wrote. “They are dyslexic, they are autistic, they have ADHD or ADD, they are square pegs in round holes, they piss people off, get into arguments, rock the boat, laugh in the face of paperwork.” According to several sources and experts, Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have all been rumored to be neurodivergent. It seems to all make sense though: Within an ever-increasing technical world, the demand for outside-of-the-box thinking is higher than ever. Neurodivergent individuals are able to do something that most neurotypicals cannot: obsess. “They don’t think the way other people think,” stated the author in her post. “They see things from angles that unlock new ideas and insights. Other people consider them to be somewhat insane.” Neurodivergent individuals are prone to developing strong interests in certain solutions. For Steve Jobs to think of the iPhone, it took a deep obsession. To overpass Jeff Bezos as the richest man in the world simply in pursuit of accelerating humankind: obsession. Without obsession, there would be no drive to see from the extreme angles necessary to create the next big thing. Obsession gives into the necessary product no normal mind could ever imagine. Most innovation throughout history can be thanked to different shades of ASD. Aside from tech giants, many prevalent historical figures have been thought to have autism
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Bill Gates speaks during All in WA: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief on June 24 in Washington.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs shows a photo of Apple’s mobile phone test site as he talks about the Apple iPhone 4 at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California on July 16, 2010.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN/TNS
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, speaks during a South by Southwest session in Austin 2018. Musk, along with other well known entrepreneurs, have found success through tireless dedication to their companies.
spectrum disorder, according to historians. Isaac Newton, Mozart, Albert Einstein, Emily Dickinson and Mark Twain are just a few figures to name. It was not until the 20th century when Hans Asperger discovered and coined the term “Asperger’s” when examining children with similar characteristics, such as obsession, poor social skills and peculiar mannerisms. Before ASD was labeled, neurodivergent individuals were often labeled as gifted children. Unfortunately, this is not the case anymore with our public school system in America. High-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome (now ASD) have become more and more recognized over the past few years, but it is still widely misunderstood. When most people think of autism, the idea of success most likely does not come into mind. Visions of poor social skills, difficult personalities and recklessness are the general perception in society. Interestingly enough, it is common for high-functioning individuals to go through life without ever receiving a proper diagnosis. Often times, these people will wind up in niche careers, such as engineering, the sciences and the arts.
Some great minds out in Silicon Valley are likely grappling with ADHD, ASD, but are accelerating. Undoubtedly, there are many high performing students here on campus, many of whom who do not know they could be neurodivergent. Too often, neurodivergent individuals face depression, anxiety and other mental disorders due to their different ways of thinking. For this reason, society is to blame for instilling structures prohibiting neurodivergent thinking processes. When placed within the right environments, their unique talents and insights can accomplish amazing things. For those reading this article who believe they are neurodivergent, recognize your obsession. Find the right place, the right major for you, the right career in order to delve in deep. Next time you question whether you have you have what it takes, ask yourself this: Do you want success? Or do you want to change how something works? The correct answer will determine the rest. Meghan is a junior in LAS mslyons2@dailyillini.com
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Get into medical school of your dreams BY BELLA KEYS STAFF WRITER
Getting into the medical school of your dreams can be tough, especially when the requirements seem overwhelming. Everyone you seem to ask has different opinions and ideas on achieving an acceptance letter. At first this may seem very discouraging, as things would be so much easier if there was just one set path, but as you progress into your research about what makes a good applicant you start to realize it’s nothing specific, and you don’t have to follow the beaten path. Medical school administrators are looking for someone with a well-rounded background who does things that they are interested in. As an applicant myself I have chosen experiences that are meaningful to me and will give me something to talk about in interviews that I actually care about. Titus Young, an advisor from The Career Center, believes that being a good applicant is about standing out and having a story that the interviewers will resonate with. “It’s actually not all about grades, but they will also want to honestly hear from you about why you chose this path,” Young said.
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There have been many students who have perfect applicants but have been denied. So, it is important that this path is for you and that the reasons you are doing this have deep meaning for you. One current medical school applicant, Max Troyke, is going through the process. “It has been exhausting and stressful, but
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firmly believes that his Spanish double major will aid him in standing out to med school admissions and helping him to excel. Other opportunities that can aid in the medical school application process are observing and shadowing physicians in various settings. Participating in different medical settings is important to understanding the machinations healthcare professionals encounter in their given vocation. Resources at students’ disposal for such opportunities can be found on The Career Center website under “Experience for Health Professions” or at the Illini Union website under “Office of Volunteer Programs.” Avenues for padding a medical school application could also involve volunteer and community services, research positions, and clinical experience through certification as a CNA or EMT. These are crucial for learning the delicate art of bedside manner because being a physician at times entails being the bearer of bad news. It is important to keep in mind there is no such thing as a perfect applicant, but a superb one.
the pursuit of medicine is worth it, and I’m excited for the road ahead,” Troyke said. Troyke is in interview stages with medical schools and has found that overall the process has been a very worth it, but trying experience. As a biochemistry and Spanish major, Troyke’s major combination has Bella is a junior in LAS helped add to his applications. The student ikeys@dailyillini.com
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Monday, February 1, 2021
The Daily Illini
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