Figuring it Out While You Go Through College and Life
This week Alyssa and Nadia are joined by former gymnastics teammate Claire Andriola to talk about college, life after graduation, and figuring out what comes next when the plan changes.
Claire shares how she arrived at UC Santa Barbara fully intending to go to medical school. Along the way, research opportunities, patient care experiences, and exposure to different areas of healthcare pushed her to rethink what she wanted. What started as a pre med path eventually led her toward research, psychology, and a much broader view of the field.
After graduation, Claire worked in clinical research before unexpectedly finding herself at a mental health startup. She talks about the transition from academia to the startup world, the opportunities that came from staying open to new experiences, and why she's no longer in a rush to have everything figured out.
The conversation feels familiar to Nadia, who is approaching graduation herself and facing many of the same questions. They talk about gap years, medical school, career uncertainty, and the pressure ambitious people put on themselves to have a clear roadmap.
They also reflect on how gymnastics shaped the way they approach life. The discipline, intensity, and drive that helped them succeed in the sport still show up today, but so does the challenge of knowing when to push harder and when to change course.
It's an honest conversation about growth, uncertainty, and learning to trust that each step will give you the information you need for the next one.
Takeaways
Changing your career goals does not mean your earlier experiences were wasted
Every experience teaches you something whether it confirms what you want or what you do not want
The discipline and resilience from gymnastics continue long after the sport ends
A lot of career decisions become easier when you stop expecting certainty.
Sometimes a random conversation can completely change your career path
Being ambitious and being flexible can exist at the same time
Gap years can create clarity instead of delaying progress
You do not need to know your entire future to make a good next decision
The pressure to have everything figured out is often self imposed
Learning who you are is just as important as choosing what you do
Chapters
0:10 – 2:02 Introducing Claire and Catching Up
2:02 – 4:14 Studying Biopsychology at UC Santa Barbara
4:14 – 7:25 Moving Away from the Medical School Plan
7:25 – 9:48 Gymnastics Intensity and Personal Values
9:48 – 12:13 From Clinical Research to Startup Life
12:13 – 15:24 Graduate School and Future Plans
15:24 – 18:10 Why One on One Connections Matter
18:10 – 20:32 Nadia Looks Ahead to Graduation
20:32 – 23:50 Learning to Live with Uncertainty
23:50 – 27:35 Gymnastics Identity and Finding Balance
27:35 – 30:20 Choosing Your Own Path
30:20 – 34:40 Advice for Students About to Graduate
34:40 – 38:23 Looking Ahead and Final Thoughts
