As the Class of 2025 graduates into an uncertain and fast-changing working world, they face a crucial question: What does it mean to be successful?
Is it better to take a job that pays more, or one that’s more prestigious? Should you prioritize advancement, relationship building, community impact or even the opportunity to live somewhere new?
Patrick Abouchalache, a professor at Boston University, surveyed about 300 former undergraduate students and spoke at length with about 50 of them.
Here’s their collective advice to the Class of 2025:
1. Define what matters most to you
Success starts with self-reflection. It means setting aside society’s noise and defining your own values.
Research shows that people driven by intrinsic motivation, or internal rewards, tend to display higher levels of performance, persistence, and satisfaction. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile’s componential theory further suggests that creativity flourishes when people’s skills align with their strongest intrinsic interests.
The alternative is to “get caught up in society’s expectations of success,” as one consulting alum put it. She described struggling to choose between a job offer at a Fortune 500 company or one at a lesser-known independent firm. In the end, she chose to go with the smaller business. It was, she stressed, “the right choice for me.”
One related principle he shares with students is the “Tell your story” rule. If a job doesn’t allow you to tell your story – in other words, if it doesn’t mirror your vision, values, talents, and goals – keep looking for a new role.
2. Strive for balance, not burnout
A fulfilling life includes time for relationships, health, and rest.
For example, a banking alum told said that business once dominated his thoughts “24/7.” He continued, “I’m happier now that I make more time for a social life and paying attention to all my relationships.”
And remember that balance and motivations can change throughout your life. As one alum explained: “Your goals change and therefore your definition of success changes. I think some of the most successful people are always adapting what success means to them – chasing success even if they are already successful.”
3. Be kind, serve others, and maximize your ‘happy circle’
“Some people believe to have a positive change in the world you must be a CEO or have a ton of money,” another alum said. “But spreading happiness or joy can happen at any moment, has no cost, and the results are priceless.”
Many alumni said that success isn’t just a matter of personal achievement – it’s about giving back to society. A retail alum shared advice from her father: “When your circle is happy, you are going to be happy,” she said. “It’s sort of an upward spiral.”
Your “happy circle” doesn’t need to consist of people you know. An alum who went into the pharmaceutical industry said his work’s true reward was measured in “tens of thousands if not millions of people” in better health thanks to his efforts.
4. Be a good long-term steward of your values
Success isn’t just about today – it’s what you stand for.
Several alumni spoke passionately about stewardship: the act of preserving and passing on values, relationships, and traditions. This mindset extended beyond family to employees, customers, and communities.
One alum defined success as creating happiness and stability not just for herself, but for her loved ones. Another, who works in hospitality, said he had a duty to further his employees’ ambitions and help them grow and develop – creating a legacy that will outlast any title or paycheck.
In an analysis by the organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, Gen Z employees were found to be more prone to burnout when their employers lacked clear values. These findings reinforce what these students already know: Alignment between your values and your work is key to success.
Final words for the Class of 2025
Professor Abouchalache offers this advice: Wherever life takes you next — a family business or corporate office, Wall Street or Silicon Valley, or somewhere you can’t even imagine now — remember that your career will be long and full of ups and downs.
You’ll make tough choices. You’ll face pressures. But if you stay grounded, invest in your well-being, celebrate your happy circle, and honor your values, you’ll look back one day and see not just a job well done, but a life well lived.
Source: The Conversation (Edited by d-mars.com)
