Just Ask
8:51:00 AM |
| image © Brooke Lark | |
Having spent three years working in corporate America, returning to the classroom as a grad student has been a constant lesson in being humble. I’ve had to remind myself that I don’t have the answers. And I don’t have to seem like I know everything or anything. On one hand, it’s disconcerting to be at the mercy of the combined wisdom of my professors, TAs, dense textbooks, and a myriad of internet resources (hello, DataCamp). More than disconcerting, it pushes me out of my comfort zone of knowing exactly how to do what I need to do, and leaves me in a strange place where my identity can’t be rooted solely in what I do for a living, anymore.
 |
| image © Patrick Schneider |
At the same time, I’ve realized that being humble, means being comfortable enough in who you are, that you’re not scared of looking stupid or ignorant—especially when you’re asking about something as important as your money or resources. Asking questions doesn’t negate my intelligence, it adds to it. Being comfortable in your own intellectualism and looking to expand that is more important than appearing smart. Even though it may not look obvious, it’s your right to ask about what you don’t understand—especially in any event that involves an investment on your part, whether that’s your time, money or a combination of both (like grad school!) It's a waste of your resources to do otherwise.
Incidentally, if you’re one of the millennials who has ignored investing because it seems too daunting, here’s a place to start.
Happy asking
xx
0 comments