College is one of the most confusing times in our young adult lives. Sure, there's always high school, but let's face it--no matter how crazy it was, you were always doing what you were told. You went to classes, basketball practice, then home to do your chores, only to wake up and do it all over. College is different. College is where you learn how to be successful, and discover what you want to succeed in doing. Newsflash: you do not have to choose a career by your freshman year of college.

Let's take advice from one of the greatest innovators of our time, Steve Jobs. Steve did not even graduate college. In fact, he dropped out and sat in on random classes that he enjoyed. From this choice, he picked up skills that he would not have gotten with a four-year plan. While dropping out of college isn't the best choice for everyone, you've got to hand it to him, Steve Jobs was the man with a plan. He created one of the most successful companies in the world, and without his brilliant mind and freedom of expression, who knows where many people would be today? In light of Steve's chaos and adventure, and maybe yours too, I would like to share some of his profound advice to guide you in your pursuit of excellence.

What is it that you want? If you're anything like the typical college student, your career plans sound something like, "Well, I could be a surgeon... no wait, I'd rather be a chiropractor." Pause for first exam results in Anatomy... "Screw it, I'm gonna be a trash collector." It's okay to not know! This is the rest of your life we're talking about. Research your dream job, the companies that inspire you most, and the kind of employee you hope to be.

“It has got to be something that you’re passionate about, because otherwise you won’t have the perseverance to see it through.”

Find your convictions.

“You’ve got to have a problem that you want to solve, a wrong that you want to right.”

What is it that you see wrong with the world? What do you do better than nobody else? In today's world, it's hard to stand out. All you have that's worth anything is who you are...and that, my friends, is everything. It's cliche to say, "Be the change," but if college must change you, let it shape you into the person you are meant to be.

Embrace the inevitability of change. Whether you are confident in your current major or are still on the fence, at least you have an idea. Hit the ground running! Take on internships, join organizations with leaders who open doors for you, and invest in your potential. Take a few intro classes in other areas, if you're torn. If you decide something is not for you, at least your efforts were not in vain. You are constantly learning about yourself and growing as a person. Never settle for less than your calling because you think you need to “stick it out” even though it’s not right for you.

“I would rather gamble on our vision than make a ‘me too’ product.”

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. In his Stanford Commencement Speech in 2005, Jobs warned us of failure, and that the world would bite, but we would just have to bite harder. Remember, find your boldness. If you are afraid to constantly pursue opportunities because “I don’t know what I want to do, yet,” you can be sure to find nothing. Aggressively chase mentors, university resources, and valuable networks. I'll leave you with some last words from Steve, and perhaps these are the most important that Jobs had to offer:

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The trouble-makers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently…they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.”