Not too long ago, my high school literature teacher said something that I’ll never forget. She said, “I’m almost in my 50s and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.”
First, I want to start by saying that yes, I did want to go to college. And yes, I have picked a major that I hope to pursue at some point in my life. But no, I do not plan on being in that job field my entire life.
Now of course, life will happen and maybe I will end up being a teacher for fifty years. But if I am lucky, I will get to be a novelist, sports journalist, and maybe some day I will get to work in history like I’ve always wanted to. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have the chance to pursue your interests and passions too. The most important thing for us to remember is that people are going to tell us that we are completely out of our minds to think that we can pursue all of our dreams, ambitions, and interests, but we have to show these people that we are brave enough to at least try.
Now I’m sure people are probably thinking, “don't you need degrees in order to pursue all of those interests?” Now it is very easy to think this because of the unfortunate societal pressure that demands higher education is a “necessity” for “future success.” To be quite honest, a degree in journalism or history would probably help me get a job in one of those fields, but maybe I just want to write for my hometown’s newspaper or work for a local museum. Just because you do not have a degree, does not mean you can't get some type of job that is related to that particular field. It most certainly helps, but if you're passionate in your work, people will notice.
Now don't get me wrong, I am more than passionate about being a teacher. I would not spend five years getting a degree if I wasn't. However, I believe it is important for people to understand that your major does not define you, nor does it mean that you have to pursue that field for the rest of your life. We all have our own interests and we should all feel as though we can pursue them at some point in our life. But more importantly, we are all talented in more than one area and should be able to display our talents through multiple professions or opportunities.
Now for the practical people reading this, I know that maintaining a steady job is important. I also know that money will always be a concern, but do not think it should be the sole driver of our lives. I’m sure people will think that I am naive, but I think it’s naive for people to think that money is more important than happiness. Absolutely nothing is more important than happiness. I’d rather receive mediocre pay and have a job that I love, than get paid thousands and thousands to perform a job I hate.
The most important thing to remember is that you do not want to look back in forty years and regret not taking chances or pursuing a career that you’re passionate about. Maybe you can pick up a minor in a field that interests you or simply pick up a volunteer job while you're still in college that fulfills an interest. But, whether you are a biology major or an economics major, a psychology major or an english major, an athletic training major or an education major, make sure that the piece of paper you receive in four years does not define you for the rest of your life.
With all of that being said, I hope that someday I do feel security and permanence with my family and my friends. But on the other hand, I am perfectly okay with being almost in my fifties and still not knowing what I want to be when I grow up because, after all, life is about growth and exploration. Life, however, is not about complacency or settling for what is “practical.”
So grow, be happy, and take chances. You only get one lifetime.
