From the moment we start school, we are asked a question. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" It follows us from childhood to adulthood. It might be an outrageous question at first but as we get older, our answers become more confident and realistic. I knew at a young age that I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to help people.
At 12 years old, I realized that I wanted to be a neurosurgeon. It was mostly because I was interested in the brain, wowed by the salary, and captivated by "Grey's Anatomy." RIP McDreamy. I loved it when people asked me what I wanted to do with my life when I got older because I felt confident that one day I would be a neurosurgeon and drive around in a fancy sports car. Wishful thinking, right? I was told numerous times that I would change my career plans in college and I would change my major several different times. Well, they were right. I did change my mind.
My sophomore year of college, I changed my major. I went from being a stressed and sad Psychology major to an even more stressed but happy English major. I realized that I wasn't following my passion, but I was just following the money signs. My passion in life has always been literature and writing. It just took failing Chemistry and being dismissed from school to see the bigger picture.
As soon as I changed my major, I was asked another career question. "What are you going to do with an English degree? Teach? There is not a lot of return investment in that degree." I respect the teaching profession and applaud them for all their hard work, but I could never be a teacher. Teaching isn't the only career path for an English major. You can do so much with the degree like whatever you want to do with it, it's your life.
Recently, I was asked another dreaded question. "What are you going to do after college graduation?" If I'm being honest, I have no clue. I learned recently that you should focus on the here and now. The future is unpredictable and who knows what kind of person I will be in six months time. Three months ago, I hated oatmeal and now I love it. I am constantly changing and I'm going to change my mind a lot in those six months. One of my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald, wrote, "I'm not sure what I'll do, but — well, I want to go places and see people. I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on the big scale." Fitzgerald always makes you feel like you aren't alone in your pondering.
Remember that uncertainty about your future in all right. You are the writer of your own story so you forge your own path. You'll find your passion in life even if it might take you a few days or a few years.
What did you want to be when you were younger? Did you have a moment of uncertainty about your career path? Tell your story in the comments below.
