The Pressure to Be "On" in the Media Industry💡

Recently, I've started stepping more into the media and marketing space, not just as a student but as someone actually experiencing it in real time. I've had the chance to attend industry events, connect with people working in the field, and even step into new opportunities; like landing a marketing role. And while all of that has been exciting, it's also revealed something I didn't fully understand before.

There's a constant pressure to be "on."

Being "on" doesn't just mean showing up to events or doing your work. It means always being ready to present yourself, your thoughts and ideas, your personality, and your potential. It means thinking about how you're perceived, what you're posting, what you're saying, and how you're positioning yourself, even when you're still figuring things out.

Toronto Tempo Court

At events like the Toronto Tempo's "Before the Bounce," I was surrounded by people who were confident, articulate, and clearly experienced. It was inspiring, but also made me aware of how much pressure there is to keep up, to feel like you need to match that energy, even when you're new.

And it's not just in person! Online, the pressure follows you.

I recently came across a message from the podcast: 'She's So Lucky' that really stuck with me: the idea that "belittling yourself is unbecoming." At first, it sounds simple. But when you think about it, it challenges something a lot of us do, especially when we're in our careers.

We downplay ourselves, thinking it's being humble.

We say "I'm just starting."

We make ourselves smaller to seem more grateful, more likable, or less intimidating.

But being in these spaces made me realize that constantly minimizing yourself doesn't actually help you grow. It just keeps you stuck in a mindset where you don't fully own your progress.

At the same time, there's a fine line. Because while you don't want to belittle yourself, you also don't want to feel like you have to feign confidence 24/7.

That's where the pressure I'm talking about comes in.

The media industry, especially in a digital space, often rewards visibility, consistency, and confidence. But it doesn't always talk about how exhausting that can be. There's this unspoken expectation that you should always be creating, always networking, always improving, and always presenting the best version of yourself.

But the reality is growth doesn't always look polished.

The reality is, growth doesn't look polished.

Sometimes you're unsure.

Sometimes you're quiet.

Sometimes you're observing more than speaking.

And that doesn't make you any less capable.

If anything, being in these spaces has taught me that there's value in not always being "on." There's value in taking a step back, in learning, in listening, and in building confidence in a way that actually feels real, not forced.

I'm still figuring it out! But now, instead of feeling like I need to constantly prove myself, I'm starting to focus more on understanding where I fit and trusting that I'll grow into it.

Because maybe being "on" all the time isn't the goal.

Maybe being real is.