Reply:

There are many reasons why thinking about my career path while still in school is important. I'm already working in my field of interest so school isn't a separate entity from my career, but part of the path itself. Thinking about where I want to go and what opportunities I want to have after graduation influence the decisions I make when selecting which courses to take, how many courses to take per session, and what networking opportunities to take advantage of. Considering a general trajectory and timeline for my career path also helps to inform me about the urgency of completing certain tasks and how these might best fit with other things going on in my life. I have been in school before with no career path in mind and found it very easy to detach current actions from future expectations. Many of the career opportunities I hope to have in the future will require specific experience and preparation that I can start investing in now. Starting to think about these things sooner rather than later will undoubtedly lead to better outcomes with less stress.