I am what a lot of people have termed a 'pandemic graduate' having completed my studies in the year 2020 and started my journey as a professional. Well... to be honest, my journey has mostly consisted of a lot of online courses, internships and failed exercise routines.
"Professional journey": Coming soon (hopefully)

One year ago, on this very date I let a *sigh* of relief as I submitted my last coursework on Turnitin and celebrated with a chocolate croissant, excited for what the future held. Little did I know, my optimism amidst the pandemic would be challenged soon enough.

The first challenge was getting home! My parents tried their best to mask their worry and fear behind the news clips and forwarded Whatsapp messages they sent daily. My friends in India would send me links and email IDs of all officials and airline representatives they could locate, until my phone storage was literally full!!!! After a long wait, several walks and well, a lot of pizzas stuffed, I finally got a call from Air India informing me about vacancy on #VandeBharat reparation flights! I was eternally grateful to all those who helped me get home and of course, passed on all the information to other fellow Indians stuck in the UK.
CHALLENGE ONE OUTCOME: VICTORIOUS (WITH A LOT OF HELP)

The second challenge was to land either a job or an internship! The reason why it was an either/or situation is another matter altogether. After four months, hundreds of applications and several hours of telling myself it would be alright, I finally received a call. It may seem simple as I have summarized my journey of four months in one line, but trust me when I say, "It was not easy. Definitely worth it though". The internship I landed was in the field of Digital Marketing, a realm I had never explored but was adamant to do well in! After several online courses, experiments with Instagram & PPC ads, and a lot of help, I came to the realization that I actually enjoyed marketing and analyzing data! *
CHALLENGE TWO OUTCOME: VICTORIOUS

The third and most important challenge was to take care of my physical and mental health. I tried several HIIT routines, Zumba workouts and what not to continue staying 'healthy' however, none of them inspired me enough to stay on track. Very often, transformation images of others (kudos to people!) would motivate me, but not for long enough and that impacted my mental health too! Taking care of my mental health has been a lengthy process. Isolation, lack of social interaction and rejection definitely took a toll on me however, I was and am fortunate that my family and friends came in support! I can't say I have championed a fitness routine or mastered self love but daily walks, playing with my strays and online courses have pulled me out of that pit I lay in for months at a stretch.
I am no specialist and people experience things differently but if you are in a similar situation, some things that may help you are: daily walks, playing with pet, meditation, songs and spending time with your loved ones. **
CHALLENGE THREE: ONGOING

While all battles cannot be won, they can be endured better with the help of your loved ones! It is a difficult time but stay strong, this too shall pass!

*I am actually hoping to pursue analytics as a career now
**I am all ears for anyone who wants to talk! You can reach out to me on Instagram or Linked.