Five years ago today, I walked across the Ramapo College Bandshell to receive my diploma. Along the way, I met new friends, mentors, and acquaintances, and spent a semester studying and interning in Washington, D.C. I did not realize then how different my path would be from what I imagined.
1. Careers Are Never Linear
Like most college graduates, I had a vision for life after graduation, but things did not always go as planned. Right after college, I worked on political campaigns full-time, a common choice for political science majors. I learned a lot and met interesting people. Many remarked on the excitement of working for public figures, but they missed the long hours, seven-day workweeks in peak seasons, and surviving on pizza.
However, the biggest challenge I ran into on campaigns was the limited room for growth. Specifically, when I worked for an Assembly candidate in 2023, I made my intentions known about where I hoped to go professionally. Ultimately, the opportunity went to someone else. For the record, I saw the campaign world as a launchpad toward where I imagined I would go. After leaving the campaign grind in 2023, I ended up taking a few part-time jobs just to make ends meet until I landed with the New York Post in early August. The Post role was full-time temporary by design, as it was mainly for the 2024 presidential election. When I got the role at The Post, I immediately knew it was where I wanted to spend the rest of my career. Unfortunately, like the rest of my colleagues on the Swing State Team, our contracts were not renewed.
The lesson here is that while it is okay to envision your future, life always has other plans in store. There are many successful people I know who have dealt with layoffs and career setbacks. Ultimately, they were able to get on their feet again. Sometimes the detour is just a fancy way of getting to where you really want to go.
2. Uncertainty is the Best Way to Reinvent Yourself
Let’s face it, being on a job hunt, especially one that drags on for months, is one of the most mentally taxing experiences any human can go through. I have been there before, especially when I was between campaigns, and later, between The Post and my current job. Over time, every rejection starts to feel personal, and for some, there comes a point where they begin asking themselves, “Will I ever be employed again?” There are plenty of people on job searches wondering when things will finally improve.
Everyone will face a professional setback at some point in their career; it happens at different stages of life. Some experience it while still a few years out of college, while others experience it in their late 20s, 30s, or even later after they have already established themselves professionally. While life’s uncertainty can be taxing, one of the best ways to navigate uncertainty is to try something that you never imagined doing. That can range from starting a business or applying for a job out of your preferred industry to volunteering for an organization you care about. That way, you can keep your skills sharp while seeking your preferred role.
3. The “Real College Experience” is a Myth
Because it’s true. No one is telling you what events to attend, clubs to join, or classes to take. Everything is ultimately up to you to decide. More importantly, it is how you view college that matters the most. Primarily, I was a commuter, and it would be easy to judge that I technically did not have a “real college experience.” However, I never let the label of a commuter define who I was on campus. I spent 5-6 days a week on campus, where I became heavily involved with the student government, which took up a large amount of my time, and the college newspaper, The Ramapo News. I also took advantage of the many programs Ramapo had to offer.
For many commuters, it can be easy to attend class and head home for the day. Building connections and getting involved can take extra effort, but those experiences often shape our college journey in meaningful ways.
When I look back at my time spent at Ramapo, I can confidently say I made the best use of my time as a student. Yes, my college journey was far from perfect; no college journey is perfect. Life also did not unfold exactly the way I hoped; some things did work out, while other things did not, and that is completely okay. We are not always able to accomplish things on our own timeline because life does not operate on a straight line; there will be unexpected twists and turns along the way. So even if I may not exactly have the life I envisioned long ago, I am still working towards becoming the best version of myself every day.
To learn more about my work, please visit my website.
Listen to The Anthony Miragliotta Show on Spotify - New Jersey’s #1 independently hosted politics podcast.
Follow New Jersey Outlook on X.