What do you want to do? This simple six-word sentence is responsible for sleepless nights and constant contemplation. For the past five years, I have been questioned as to what exactly I am going to do with my education upon graduating. Which, at best, has best answered with half ass answers and senseless babbling. What started as a genuine question ends in awkward communication with blank stares followed by self-critique as to what I am actually doing with my life.
As my search for an answer has continued over the past five solid years, I have realized I am not alone. Through interacting with other students and talking among peers, I have realized the thought process for what one is going to do for the rest of his or her life at the age of 20 years old is a daunting task. Sure, you have the lucky individuals who come out of the womb dreaming of being the next state senator, but some of us believe it or not actually have to search for our calling.
Schooling is a strategy the innovative generation follows to get the credentials they need, with as little effort as possible. Yet while the current education system tries to make a cookie-cutter platform for students to succeed; it is only damaging those who go on to pursue higher education at Universities and employment. At a young age, students are occupied with busy work, worksheets and to sit quietly listening to lectures. Living in the 21st century, the world seeks those who can think outside the box and has a creative perspective on the way ideas succeed, which is why the three following principles should be applied when choosing anything you do in life: especially education. Play, passion and purpose.
Through the novel “Creating Innovators” author, Tony Wagner sums up his theory of the three p’s to pursue an abundance of meaning for life.
Play: We are born with an urge to play through exploration, curiosity, and experimentation, which gives way to new findings that lead to passion and purpose. Our greatest inventions have all been founded through play, “Being innovative is central to being human, are curious and playful animals, until it is beaten out of us” stated Joost Bonsen. Play is essential for human nature and involves any aspect of fun one might find. From sports to computer science play is found in all forms of life and is at the forefront of where passion and purpose derive from.
Passion: This is the motivating interest to do what you are doing. You are internally devoted to work on the above task to benefit the cause you seek. Individuals will fulfill creativity when their interest is intrinsic and the challenge is self-rewarding instead of external pressures. Simply put if you don’t have the passion for the overall task, you will not have the perseverance to follow through.
Purpose: Now that the first two characteristics have been identified, it is a lot easier for one to find a niche for what their true calling is. Many mistake passion and purpose as one; passion is tied more toward emotions where purpose is deeper and farther beyond just feelings. Purpose is what someone is born to do, to be the change they wish to see in the world, their meaning for existence. It takes a true innovator to dig within them to find their true calling. Many examples stem from great leaders such as Jef Bezos who wants to make history or the founder of skype who wants to disrupt the world by making it a better place.
Upon further evaluation of your own skills and life goals, take into consideration the fundamentals of play, passion and purpose; who knows, maybe those dreaded, awkward conversations will lead to your next great invention.
