I Wasn’t Informed! | Things You Wish You Knew Before You Started Working
By Tynne De Leon

Not too long ago, you were cramming for your thesis’ final defense and now here you are; dressed to the nines and working your ass off for that new pitch.

Oh, how time flies! While you’re finally working with professionals and doing grown-up stuff, you can’t help but wonder how there’s still so much in this world you don’t know, and how you wish you realized that fact earlier. Some things you just have to learn the hard way. As it dawns on you that you’ve never been this clueless about your life, you hear Chris Martin singing “Nobody said it was easy,” in your head.

In-between spilling coffees, printing documents and tons of follow-up e-mails, here are things you wish you knew before you dived into the real world: *cue Twenty One Pilots’ “Stressed Out”*

8. Stress is the new normal.

“Choose something you love and never work a day in your life.” Pfft. Wrong! This is the first hard lesson you will learn. Sure, you love your job, but everything comes with big responsibilities. Know this: You’re going to get stressed regardless; it’s just a matter of how you deal with it.

7. 8A.M. is not your high school 8A.M.

If you thought high school has already trained you to wake up early—surprise, things are a lot different now. If you can skip classes before to catch up on your sleep (bet you did!), it doesn’t work that way in the real world. You’ll have to work your ass off for 8 straight hours, unless you want your work to suffer.

Tip: Vitamins are your best friend.

6. Commuting is a serious bitch.

If your school is just a ride away from home, then you‘ll be waking up to the biggest nightmare of your work life. You’re going to get used to it, but you’ll hate it forever. It will seem your commuting time is more tiring and stressful than your job. Load up your smartphones with tons of feel-good music.

5. Don’t be an attachment Barbie.

If in school you are stuck with the same people for years, the workplace is a whole lot different. You’ll meet all kinds of people along the way, but they are not meant to stay forever. People come and go, and it’s okay.

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