Art by Cara Tang
Transparency Item: The Perspectives section of the Graphic is comprised of articles based on opinion. This is the opinion and perspective of the writer.
My natural inclination is to say yes. I want to be helpful, involved and I never want to miss out on an opportunity.
However, as I have progressed through college, I have recognized that my time is a scarce resource.
I simply do not have enough time to be a part of all of the classes, clubs, on-campus jobs and internships that appeal to me. While this was difficult for me to grasp, accepting the reality that I cannot participate in everything has drastically improved my quality of life and focus.
Due to my tight schedule, I say no to the majority of clubs and activities that I am presented with. Instead, I focus my energy on the things that I have made the priority to say yes to.
Now, I can give 100% of my time and energy to things that I have committed to.
The power of saying no can influence both professional and personal opportunities.
The science journal Nature had a 2021 study where four women agreed to collectively turn down 100 work-related requests. The study found that despite worries that they were letting colleagues down, the women kept their jobs. Additionally, the women had no concerns of missing out on building professional experience, according to Forbes.
I had a similar experience this past summer when I was presented with a return offer to a previous internship.
I was tempted to accept the offer because it aligned with my career goals and I would be able to stop searching and applying for other internships, which was taking a significant amount of time.
However, as I considered the offer, I realized I was looking for something better. This internship only required 12 hours a week of work, significantly limiting the amount of money I would earn that summer. Additionally, I already had made those important networking connections and had the experience on my resume.
Even though it was hard, I turned down the offer. I continued with my ongoing quest for internship opportunities.
In the end, I acquired a full-time paid internship and I made a number of lasting connections that I anticipate will benefit me in my future professional endeavors.
Saying no can also have tremendous benefits for personal relationships. Being selective with the relationships I invest in has given me stronger friendships.
I prefer to have a few close friends over many surface-level friends. I am able to give my time and energy into long-lasting relationships when I prioritize who I spend my time with.
However, saying no comes with some downsides. Sometimes I frustrate others because I cannot commit to attending their event or helping with a project.
Other times, I have to say no to some genuinely good opportunities that would likely benefit my career, enrich my relationships and improve my quality of life.
That being said, I have found that saying no to a lot of good opportunities has given me the freedom and flexibility to say yes to some great opportunities. Although it may be hard to say no initially, I am almost always at peace with my decision once I realize that my time is better spent somewhere else.
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Contact Caitlin Murray via email: caitlin.murray@pepperdine.edu
