While swaying side to side in a grey, spin chair, I thoughtlessly listened to my professor drone on about class expectations as he gave the same old speech many before him usually give during the first couple weeks of school. With a subtle accent that indicated he wasn’t from the States and messy hair that didn’t fit perfectly atop his head, he finally caught my attention as he slammed his hands on the desk in front of him. “If you’re not totally in love with this major, get out. There’s no point in being here.”
“Woah,” I thought to myself. He didn’t crack a smile, he didn’t sarcastically laugh it off, and I didn’t dare look him dead in the eyes. He was serious, and I was intimidated.
As I went to bed that night, I blinked up at the ceiling, deep in thought. Did I really love my major? Is this something I am passionate about? As sleep tugged at my eyelids, I dreamed of my future, of what I wanted to do with my life.
The next morning I made my decision: I’m sticking with it. With assurance brewing inside of me, I smiled at the thought that, "Yes, I am passionate about what I am doing and I am excited for what’s to come."
Although I felt this surge of confidence, it would have been easy for me to be persuaded to choose the other option, which would have been back out now or regret not doing so.
Moral of the story: if you’re not enamored with the idea, the person or the thing, leave. Passion is what drives your motivation and your excitement for something. The desire to succeed doesn’t blossom from regret, it blooms from inspiration of what you are pursuing.
Whether it be a person, a decision or even something as simple as your undergraduate major, choose what makes you feel excited to jump out of bed in the morning, rather than pulling up the covers and refusing to wipe the sleep from your eyes.
Life is short. You already know this. So as the famous cliché states, do what you love and love what you do. What’s the point of wasting time when time is the most precious commodity we, as humans, have to spend? If you’re not totally in love with something, make your escape now, but then don’t forget to pursue your true passion, as well.
