Worried that I chose the wrong career
I finished my master's in May 2023 and was lucky enough to get a job right away, so I am finishing year 3 of being a middle school counselor, but I am constantly struggling to feel good enough, and I worry that I made a mistake and chose the wrong career.
I am very introverted, which I don't think is a problem when meeting with students individually, but office politics are very difficult for me, and I often feel that most of the people in the office, including admin and the teachers, don't like me. It doesn't help that my co-counselor is super outgoing and is always out and about chatting with people, while I tend to stay in my office and meet with kids.
I try to always be kind to everyone I meet and to all of my students, but I can't help but feel that someone who is bubblier or more outgoing would be better for this job, and I am just destined to feel inadequate my entire career (and have my principals be disappointed that they hired me; this is a constant fear that I have). I often go home feeling like I've done a bad job or not done enough, even though when it comes to completing tasks, meeting deadlines, and meeting with kids, I always complete everything I need to.
My co-counselor is also constantly staying late working, and I genuinely have no idea what she is doing during that time, because it is rare that I have work that needs to be done that I can't finish during the regular school day. I usually leave at my contracted ending time, unless there is an emergency or something that must get finished before the next day. I am very protective of my work-life balance in this way, but then I know it must make me look bad to leave on time when she is staying late often (obviously, I am comparing myself to her a lot).
Not really sure what my purpose is in posting this, I'm just struggling. I keep hoping I'll get to a point were I feel more comfortable and confident in my career, but it doesn't seem to be happening.