Seems like a simple question, right? As little kids growing up we all had an answer to this within seconds of being asked. Dreams of becoming an actress, doctor, professional athlete, or astronaut were attainable at that age. You didn’t care what people thought and no one really doubted you because you were so young. You could be anything you wanted without the factors of money, graduate school, or influences of others. Why did that have to change? Does becoming an adult always mean we have to lose our imagination and freedom of choice?
I know personally growing up I wanted to be a teacher and actress. I remember my dad telling me one thing to always live by which was, “If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life.” This is something I have witnessed through him and seen firsthand how your career should be your passion. We get this mindset that we shouldn't be in a certain profession because of time commitments or lack of a salary. Why would you risk ending up in a job you aren’t passionate about if it means you couldn’t be happy going to work every day?
At this age you constantly get asked, “what are you studying,” “what do you want to do after college,” and “where do you want to live after college?” The scariest part is we only have four years to figure out exactly what the answers to all of these are. I sometimes miss the slow paced lifestyle when you could actually take the time to use your imagination and create your own future without all the worries. I want you all to walk away with three key factors to figuring out who you want to be.
1. Find ways that make you stand out.
Are you passionate about a club at school? Is there an activity that not many people participate in, but you love? Is there a volunteer opportunity that you enjoy more than the classes for your major? After college, you are going to want to be able to talk about the passions that will make you stand out from other applicants. Find that spark you feel when doing something you love and thrive in that area. During an interview employers will be able to tell if you are being genuine just by the look in your eyes and if you are speaking from the heart.
2. Pursue your talents and strengths.
Think about what makes you truly happy. There are ways to implement things that make you happy into a final career choice. You shouldn’t just settle for a job because you feel like you have already gotten too invested, or because you already got an amazing offer from somewhere. I guarantee when you get to that job you’re going to realize that it wasn’t meant for you, and you don’t want to risk ending up dissatisfied. Excel in these four years on your strengths and talents. Find areas of study that really allow you to do this so you can be successful.
3. Be confident.
The best piece of advice would be to trust yourself. When you feel like you aren’t making the right decision, or you’re questioning who you want to be you have to trust what is best for you. Think back to how you felt deciding who you wanted to be when you were just a child. Revisit that innocence and freedom. You should be able to trust your conscience and you know when things feel right and when they don’t.
No matter what, the future holds something great for everyone. Sure, things aren’t going to be easy and you will have setbacks anywhere you end up. You are never alone and have constant support from friends, co-workers, and family members to lean on. Close your eyes and think about the person you want to be. Now is the time to be them. You can be anything you set your mind too.
