Imagine you’re watching a movie that was just released. As you sit there eating your popcorn, you mindlessly watch the actor or actress play a role that you have already seen before. Then you wonder “they are so good at what they do. How can a different actor play the same role that every actor has before them and, yet, make it look entirely different? Everyone has a gift-"
You start to list off all of the people you know who possess something ‘special'.
“I wonder what mine is...?”
Your conscience is right; everyone has a gift. But the trick is, everyone can see it except you. Now how unfair is that? Curse you, sassy, subconscious mind and all of your trickery! Here’s the real question, how do you discover your destiny? There are two ways, one, ask everyone you know "is there something special about me?” Although that might confuse them and they may just say “you have big eyes”. Thanks, but no. Two, you can try something you’ve never tried before and see how much you enjoy it. Now this could be anything ranging from a hobby to a new food to a new job; the list goes on.
I wouldn’t consider my love of agriculture to be a “gift” more-so I have discovered that agriculture is my passion. I didn’t know I had a passion for agriculture; I thought I had a passion for singing or theater or dancing or pretty much anything that is the complete polar opposite of agriculture.
It wasn’t until I had switched my major in the fall of my sophomore year that I realized I had a long-lost love for an industry I knew nothing about. I didn’t grow up on a farm, I didn’t know what a cover crop was, and I didn’t know the difference between a Jersey or a Holstein cow (just for your information they are both dairy cows, I just saved you the Google search…you’re welcome).
As that fall semester came to a close and the spring semester followed suite, I reflected on everything I had learned in that year. To say it simply, I was shocked. I had learned more about agriculture, and myself than I thought I ever could.
Finding your calling isn’t easy, but you’ll never know if you don’t dip your toes into the never-ending pool of possibilities. If it wasn’t for my Uncle Jeff, I never would have known that agriculture was even an option for me. He made agriculture become a true 'what if' situation. If I had not have taken the chance and tried this new opportunity, I never would have known that I have a love for the land.
My advice would be to start with something you may have a relation to. For example, if you like animals try volunteering at a humane society (this is a two for one deal, you could discover your love of volunteering and further your love of animals, I recommend this tactic).
Maybe you don’t know where to start or you’re afraid you will end up trying something that doesn’t seem right for you; write out a list of what you like, who you aspire to be like, or something you’ve always wanted to try but never had the motivation to do.
Open your mind to the options set out before you. There are a million paths you can travel but no matter which one you choose, you will end up discovering your “gift” in the end.
