The Startup is You

By Derek Simpson

When I first started at Oregon State, I didn’t think of myself as a “startup.” I thought of startups as tech companies or people trying to launch some new app. Over the course of this class, the idea actually started to make more sense. The whole point was that a startup is something that’s growing, changing, and figuring itself out. When you look at college that way, it kind of fits. You’re building something over time, and that something is you and your future.

If I imagine myself at the end of my time at OSU looking back, I think the biggest thing I’ll realize is how important flexibility was. When I first started college, I thought the path would be pretty simple. Take classes, graduate, and then move into a career. But as the class talked about different pathways and ABZ planning, I realized that most successful paths aren’t perfectly straight. They involve adjusting when things change and being willing to try different approaches.

During my first term, I set a few basic goals for myself. Academically, I wanted to stay organized and build good habits so I could keep my grades up. Personally, I wanted to make sure I didn’t burn myself out. College can take over your life pretty quickly if you’re not careful, so I wanted to keep a balance between school and everything else. Professionally, I wanted to start building skills that would actually matter in the real world instead of just focusing on passing exams.

To help reach those goals, I tried to stay consistent with a few strategies that I learned in my Transitions class. I attempted to focus on managing my time better, staying ahead on assignments when possible, and paying attention to what skills I was actually gaining from each class. Some goals were more successful than others. I also started thinking more intentionally about connections with other people, because the course talked a lot about the importance of networking and learning from others.

Each part of this project throughout the term helped me see college differently. The “startup mindset” idea made me realize that I should treat my education more like building something instead of just completing tasks. The asset inventory assignment helped me recognize that everyone already has experiences and strengths that they can build on. The ABZ planning concept showed me that having backup plans is actually smart, not a sign of failure. The sections about networking and network intelligence reminded me that other people play a huge role in success. And the parts about well-being and intelligent risk helped me understand that growth usually happens when you push yourself outside your comfort zone, but in a smart way.

One of the biggest lessons I applied throughout college was staying flexible when things didn’t go exactly as planned. There were definitely moments where I had to adjust my expectations and rethink my approach. Instead of getting stuck on the original plan, I tried to treat those moments as opportunities to figure out a new direction. That mindset ended up helping me stay motivated even when things were challenging.

My main reason for going to college in the first place was pretty simple. I wanted to create more opportunities for myself and build a career that would be stable and meaningful. A college degree opens doors that would be harder, if not impossible to access otherwise. I chose OSU because it offered the program I wanted and gave me an environment where I could realistically work toward those goals.

When I first started college, my dream was mainly just to graduate and move into a career where I could keep growing professionally. Now that I’m closer to graduation, that dream has expanded a little. Instead of just focusing on getting a job, I’m thinking more about long-term development and where I want to be in 20 years.

Throughout my time at OSU, I think I built my competitive advantage mainly through adaptability and skill development. College isn’t just about the degree itself; it’s about what you learn along the way and the determination required to complete it. I developed stronger communication skills, better time management, and the ability to think through problems more carefully. A lot of those skills came from everyday college tasks like working through assignments, connecting with other students, and pushing myself to stay consistent even when things got stressful and mentally exhausting.

Another part of building a competitive advantage was saying yes to opportunities when they came up. Sometimes that meant trying things that were outside my comfort zone. I wouldn’t say I took huge risks, but I definitely took a few intelligent ones. Looking back, I’m glad I did because those experiences helped me grow more than staying comfortable would have.

Plan A, plan B, and plan Z planning is something I think I’ll continue using after graduation. Instead of relying on one single career path, I’ll keep thinking about multiple directions that could work depending on what opportunities come up. That mindset makes the future feel less stressful because you know there are always other possibilities.

Another major part of my college experience was the people who supported me along the way. Professors, classmates, and other connections all played a role in helping me grow. Sometimes that meant getting advice, other times it meant working together on projects. The course talked about “network intelligence,” which basically means learning from the people around you. I
definitely saw how valuable that can be.

Going forward, I want to keep building those connections and continue learning from others. At the same time, I also want to help people the way others helped me. Whether that’s mentoring students, giving advice, or just being supportive, paying that forward is important.

If I had to give advice to someone starting their first term of college, I would tell them to think of themselves as a startup from the beginning. It sounds a little strange at first, but it helps you take ownership of your individual path through education and your future goals. Instead of just completing assignments, you start thinking about how each experience is helping you grow, even if you fail.

If I could recommend one specific step for new students, it would be to start building connections right away. Talk to your professors, meet classmates, and look for opportunities to get involved. Those relationships will end up helping you much more than you probably expect.

At the end of the day, college is about a lot more than just getting a diploma. It’s about learning who you are, what you can do, and what direction you want your life to go in. Thinking of myself as a startup helped me realize that growth doesn’t stop at graduation.