I've been told time and time again that I'm "pigeonholing" myself.

I've been told what I want to do with my life makes no sense.

I've been told that my desired career field is small, and therefore unrealistic.

I've been told not to set such a specific goal for myself, and that having my heart set on something makes me narrow-minded.

I've been told that keeping my goal in mind is just closing myself off and that it's therefore obsessive.

Although it's important to keep an open mind, it's also important to keep in mind what makes you happy. You'll go nowhere if you aren't passionate about what you're doing. If your heart isn't there, you won't be fully present. Passion is the fuel to your fire; it drives us to better ourselves each and every day. It makes us more determined, and more willing to rise to challenges. Passion can take you extremely far, and help you bring something entirely new to the table.

In my opinion, passion is one of the most vital character traits one can have. Passion is what sets you apart from others. It's clear when you're discussing something you're really into, and it's often commendable. It gets people invested in your conversation and really helps drive home the point you're trying to get across. It's something people will remember when you walk away.

As a college student, I am well aware of the fact that I need to keep an open mind. And I am keeping my mind very open. There's a difference between closing oneself off and having a goal to work towards, although many seem to believe there is a very thin line (if any line at all) between the two. There is absolutely nothing wrong with setting a goal for yourself. Having a "grand plan" is a great way to keep yourself motivated. I know that I need to take what I'm given, and that's what I plan to do... but I see anything I do prior to reaching my goal as a step to really get there.

I'll leave you with a quote... anyone who knows me will not be surprised that the quote that immediately comes to mind is from my all-time favorite musical, A Chorus Line. As stated in the show by Cassie, "I want to do what I love as much as I can and as long as I can. But at least, now - I'm doing it for me. Who are you doing it for?"