Like all kids, when I was little I had many different interests. I started playing sports at a very young age and was involved with swim, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and even taekwondo. I didn’t participate in all of these activities at the same time, but it did consume a large portion of my free time as a kid. I LOVED IT! I was having the time of my life running around, playing with friends.
Similar to other kids, I was constantly asked what I wanted to be when I grow up. At the time I didn’t really have an answer to this question, but one thing was for sure. I was fascinated with space. I know, I know. Space, really?
All through early elementary school, I was intrigued by space and the planets, the stars, the astronauts, the people typing away behind their computer screens at NASA. I couldn’t keep up with all of the thoughts that were rushing through my head. In the third grade, my mom got me a book about space so that I could “do some research”. I was so excited! Little did I know that this one book would lead to another interest of mine that would develop over time.
In the third grade, I joined Battle of the Books, which is where four students get together and read books assigned from a list. Every once in a while, we would come together and have “tournaments” (where we were questioned over the books and their content). I became an avid reader from there on out. Although I was still interested in space and exploration, I had turned to books as a way to spend my spare time.
In middle school and high school, I was very involved. I joined many clubs, student organizations, and school teams. It was impossible for me to simply choose one or a few. I participated in things such as volleyball, student council, marching band, art club, and the list goes on. I couldn’t help myself. At the time, I truly wanted to gain all of the information I could. It was around this time that I became intrigued with music. Ah yes, music.
I had started playing the piano when I was around 8 years old. I didn’t really love it or hate it at the time, it was just something I did. It wasn’t until later on that I picked up another instrument, the clarinet. I wasn't crazy about it either, but as I learned how to play other instruments and develop musical skills and knowledge, I began to truly enjoy it. I still do!
Throughout high school, people continued to ask me what I wanted to do when I’m older. I still didn’t have an answer for them. Well, at least not one that they’d want to hear. I started to feel the pressure, and constantly worried about my future. I would spend late nights trying to plan my entire life including where I was going to go to college, what I was going to major in, and what career I wanted to pursue.
When I came to college I was told to pick a major. I had thoroughly done my research on different majors and job opportunities, which included things such as health professions, physics, engineering, architecture, and music.
I enrolled as a computer science major since computers were always an intriguing subject to me (much like space was when I was little) and made it through a whole semester as a computer science major.
I took programming classes, joined a few clubs, and shortly realized that computer science is not something I wanted to pursue as a career. Even though I switched my major, I’m still intrigued by computers. Similarly, even though I’m not a music major, I still have an undying love for it.
I’m currently a Journalism and Mass communications major, due to my natural creativity and my love for both reading and writing. I’m still constantly asked what I want to do when I graduate from college, and although I still don’t have a definite answer yet, I’m a lot closer to finding something that will allow me to express my creativity and combine my neverending list of interests.
I have far fewer interests now than I did as a kid, but I'm still passionate about reading, writing, music, design, social issues, and helping others. In spite of being a Journalism major, I continue to be involved and taking courses in music, English, and graphic design, and I love them all! I've found that it IS possible to pursue more than one interest. It’s not always easy, but it's possible.
For those of you who have one or two interests, great! Go for it. Dive as deep into that subject as you possibly can. Find out everything there is to know and continue to develop your passion for that subject. For those of you like me and have many interests, don’t let others say you can’t have more than one passion. After all, innovation starts at the intersection of unlike interests.
