Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Name: Ankit P.
- Year Of Graduation: 2024
- College/University: Indiana University
- Major: Healthcare Management and Policy
What do you do for a living?
I work at a hospital called Atlantic Health Systems and teach doctors and nurses how to use the electronic medical record system. My job started as an internship which began as a four-week training program where they taught us the material and then we taught it back to them. At the end of the four weeks, we got our credentials saying that we were able to teach doctors and nurses. I recently got hired full-time from this internship.
Can you tell me about your job search experience after graduation?
So I started looking for internships during my junior year, literally anything like finance, healthcare, anything. I just needed an internship because I didn’t want to go into my senior year with no experience. I basically Googled internships in New Jersey and then I would track them on a spreadsheet. It was like 200 companies probably, and I would get absolutely no response from most. I applied a lot on LinkedIn and Indeed as well.
I finally ended up getting an internship, and I was actually born in New Jersey so it was really great to be able to spend my summer there. I didn’t get an offer letter from them after junior year so I kept in touch with my mentor and eventually, I got to do a trial run to be a full-time employee – like I got to be a bit more hands-on. Just three weeks ago, I got hired full-time.
Why did you choose your major?
I knew I wanted to do something in healthcare but I didn’t want to be a doctor and I was awful at science. My parents were pretty into business so I considered that as well, and went into college undecided. My first year was during COVID, so I was doing school from home. I ended up taking some random classes and then found out about the Healthcare Management major, which was a good intersection of the two things I was interested in.
If I asked you 3 years ago, what would you think you’d be doing right now (in life/career)?
I think something with finance. I’ve always wanted to work those high rises in the city, you know. I feel pretty satisfied now, but I think it’s always been a dream to have my own office, looking out at the New York City skyline or something like that. I think I’ll try to pursue tech or finance eventually.
What’s your biggest struggle right now?
My mental health, I think. I feel like I’m going insane sometimes, to be honest. I moved from Indiana to New Jersey, and that’s a big difference for me because I don’t have a lot of friends here. It’s hard to make friends as an adult. When you’re in college, you’re always surrounded by people and everyone is always willing to talk to you. I’m also away from my parents and we’re really close. That’s one of the hardest things. Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time in the day as well – it feels like I’m running out of time. A lot of kids take their free time for granted, especially in college. So I’m trying to figure out how to keep myself fulfilled and happy outside of work, and meet friends where I live now.
People say your 20s are supposed to be the time of your lives. The reality is that you’re joining a new world. You’re doing a lot of things for the first time. You have to pay taxes and file for insurance, and do all these things we weren’t necessarily taught before. It’s a lot of the stuff that your parents used to take care of, but you’re the driver of the truck now.
I think my first step in helping myself was to go to therapy. My first session was yesterday, and it was really nice to get things out. If you have the opportunity, I think everyone should try therapy, especially for people around our age. There’s just so much change and you have all of these goals as a young adult, and your brain is always moving and always thinking about the next thing. It’s stressful and anxiety-inducing.
If money was not a factor, what would you be working on or spending more time on?
I think I would like to open up my own gym. The gym has completely changed my life and I think I could motivate other people. I started working out in high school and began powerlifting in college. It’s not so straightforward though, you know, first you need money and then you need people coming in who are willing to pay. It’s not easy to make a profit, but you can really help people make positive impacts on their lives.
If we traveled 3 years into the future of your life, what would you hope we’d see?
I kind of want to be in a relationship. I’d be 25 and I’d hope to find someone by then. This is also kind of a weird dream, but I want to have a Porsche. It doesn’t have to be new or anything. I just want a nice car and a good salary, like six figures and up.
What advice and/or learnings would you give to current students or recent grads?
For current students: say yes to everything. The freedom you have is limited and you’re young, so you should enjoy yourself. I didn’t have a great GPA in college and I still got a job. No one asks for your GPA. They care about your skills. I’m not saying you shouldn’t care about your grades at all but I think you should go to parties or talk to that person you’re interested in. Go hang out with your friends. You’ll miss it once you’ve graduated.
For graduates: Find a routine that you like. I work from seven to three. I’m home by like 3:45 pm, then I take a nap or do stuff around the house, then I eat dinner, and then go to the gym. Once I’m done, I hang out for a bit and then sleep. Also, fitness is key, especially at our age. People can easily fall into unhealthy patterns like drinking a lot or experimenting with drugs, and not taking care of their physical health. You should include some kind of physical activity in your routine, whether that be biking or yoga, or going to the gym. It’s a good way to make friends as well.
Making and keeping friends is all about effort. Stay in touch. I always reach out to people to check-in. I don’t care if it’s going to feel awkward, I’m going to listen and care and see what you’re up to. I keep in touch with some people in high school and even elementary. It’s important.
Connect With Ankit:
- LinkedIn: @AnkitPatel
- Instagram: @a.nkiipatel
