Congratulations to Kaknika Lin (AUPP’17) who recently graduated with a Juris Doctor Degree from Boston University School of Law, top 20 in US News & World Report’s 2021 ranking of US law schools, and One of the only 17 US law schools ranked among the top 100 in the world. (2021, QS World Univ. Rankings)
Kaknika graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Law from the American University of Phnom Penh in 2017. Appearing on Spirit Week 2021: Motivation Monday – Open Mic, Kaknika encouraged current students and fresh graduates to:
1) Be proactive and work hard. Whether you work or study, you will have to put yourself out there and take advantage of the opportunities available. If opportunities aren’t available, make them and pave the way for others to follow. If you are outside of Cambodia (in the U.S., UK, etc), there are inevitably cultural differences and you’ll need to adapt to that. For instance, learning to go out of your way and network with other people might not be something we’re used to doing. The most important thing is to find your own style of doing things while being your authentic self. As long as you are proactive and work hard, you WILL achieve your goals.
2) Be resilient and continue to learn. Undoubtedly, there will be setbacks on your journey to achieve your goals. You might be rejected from your dream school, or might not get the score you wanted on an entrance test or did not get an offer for your ideal job. We’ve all experienced that. It’s crucial for you to get back up and continue to pursue your goals one way or another. For example, we often envision ourselves achieving our goals in a straight line. But it’s rarely an easy A to B. Reality is that there are often tangents on the way (speak to successful people in your field and they will tell you that). Continue to learn new things, learn from people, and be up to date – you’ll set yourself up for success.
3) Your own well-being matters just as much for your success. Some of you may find yourselves in fields that tend to be highly competitive. For me, it’s starting my career as a lawyer, and lawyers have some of the highest rates of anxiety and depression among professionals. Being able to decompress after work and do other activities that you enjoy is just as crucial for your success and productivity, as being good at your job. Work-life balance is different for everyone and each person has their own way to de-stress. Find what works for you to support your mental and physical wellbeing!
AUPP wishes Kaknika good luck on her next journey!
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