For years I have been worried about whether or not I was going down the right path or if this was what God wanted for me. Ever since high school I have been bombarded with opportunities and things that I found interesting, but I did not know what I should study in college. I asked people that were close to me how I could tell what the best path was. One of the best pieces of advice I received was, we can't find our true calling just standing still. They compared it to a train; we cannot get anywhere just standing/sitting on the tracks, we must fuel up our hobbies and find out what works for us. We must explore new things and engage in activities that bring out our passions and interests.
One thing that I have noticed about schools nowadays is that they do a great job at making sure students explore different fields. Research papers and taking liberal arts classes have helped many, including myself, at finding what their calling is. Middle and high school educations are more than just books and studying for every single test, they are also about experiencing things and taking every opportunity that comes one's way. I love the fact that schools offer so many different courses and activities so students can shine at what they do best, such as art, technology, math, science, etc. Most schools that I have heard of in my area also make sure that students can take classes that they are interested in, such as electives and special classes (i.e. A.P. courses).
Our calling is never laid out in front of us or flashing in big, neon letters. I got the feeling when I was little that God somehow "magically" put things in our lives so we knew where we had to go. Something I learned from college is that there is no one path for our lives. People always think that we have one path that we are supposed to follow and if we stray from it we are doomed. However, this is untrue. God is far more lenient with our life choices. There are many decisions that come across our path and obstacles that make us stronger to conquer other hard choices, each one is different and we have no idea where it will take us.
A person's true life calling is more than just books, pencils and years of sitting in classrooms. A person and their character, experiences and opportunities all contribute to one's calling. No matter what background or class, a person can find their own path by hard work and passion for the talents and skills they posses. The path to find one's life calling is not one straight path, it is winding and twisted, but the journey to get there and the struggles make the joy of finding one's self more exciting and wonderful.
