From the time we are old enough to talk, we are asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” When I was asked this question, I gave the normal responses of a girl -- a ballerina. Then it changed to a veterinarian, to an actress, and to a baker. It seemed I wanted to do and be a lot of things in the world.

When my senior year of high school rolled around, I had so many passions that I didn’t know how to answer the frequently asked questions. I liked to read and write, but I also loved to perform and be on stage. I liked learning about history, as well as learning about genetic diseases. I couldn’t imagine only picking one major in college and having to stick with that one thing the rest of my life. It made me nervous about the future. It made me anxious about the goals I was going to accomplish. It made me worried about being successful.

At K-State, each incoming freshman has to take a test called StrengthsQuest. It is a test that helps identify five top strengths in order to maximize your potential not only at K-State but also in a future career. My strengths are WOO (winning others over), positivity, communication, futuristic and strategic. I thought, “Awesome, these will totally help me pick a future career!” While that is somewhat true, I still couldn’t seem to stick with one thing, and focus my energy into that one decision. I decided after the first semester of trying to focus on just my claimed major and sorority, I would go back to the way I was -- being interested and trying all options possible.

I changed my major, and then changed it back the next week. Then dropped a minor ,and then added a minor. I thought about all the possible options in my respective field. I joined show choir, Greek affairs and was a fashion show coordinator. I started to write for the school newspaper and then moved on to write for The Odyssey. I started to embrace my multiple passions.

It wasn’t until recently that I understood what I was. I am addicted to Ted Talks (online motivational videos and stories of people) and go on their website to watch these videos often. Scrolling through the videos, I saw the title, “ Why Some Of Us Don’t Have One True Calling.” As Emilie Wapnick starts her talk, she starts to list off her many passions. She talks about how, as a child, she would throw her heart and soul into one activity only to get bored and move on to something else. She describes herself as a multi-potentialite.

Wapnick’s definition of multi-potentialite is a person who has so many passions that they can’t pick one to specialize in. This resonates with me. I now identify as a multi-potentialite. I am curious by nature, and shouldn’t hide this part of my personality from the world. I will probably have multiple careers. I will probably have multiple hobbies. I will probably want to explore new worlds and that it ok. It is okay to be this way. While it would be nice to be able to specialize in one thing, I am proud to be a newfound multipotentialite.

Wapnick’s story and understanding makes me want to reach out to other multi-potentialites. I want to tell them it is ok to be interested in multiple things. It is okay to change your majors six times. It is okay to be involved in totally unrelated activities because being unique is awesome. So how do I answer the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I answer honestly. I don't know.

If you want to watch the Ted Talk that changed my life, check out the link below. Emilie Wapnick: Why some of us don't have one true calling.