We all deserve to enjoy what we do for a living. Our job or career should excite us, but unfortunately, many people must sacrifice their passions for a paycheck. We must abandon our dream jobs for a more practical way of making money, even if it does not make us happy.

On Monday, June 20, 2016, I had my very first day of work, where I would be working as a camp counselor at a local elementary school. This job requires me to be at the school by 8:30 a.m., and my day ends at 1:30. Since my parents have jobs of their own, and I still do not have my license, I must ride my bike to work, which takes me about 20 minutes... uphill. Believe me when I say that riding my bike early in the morning during the summer's humidity is not how I planned on spending my time, yet here I am, loving this job. Here's some reasons why you should strive for a job that you love.

1. You love waking up every morning.

We all hate waking up early in the mornings; hence why we slam our hands repeatedly against our alarm clocks without a care for the damage that we do. These past few days, I have had no problems rolling out of bed and getting ready for the day ahead. Even though I'm up at 7 a.m., I anticipate the hours ahead of me, for I know it will be filled with activities that I enjoy doing. It's a wonderful feeling to be genuinely excited for your day, because it means that you're happy.

2. You get paid to do what you love.

I think everyone can agree that having money is pretty awesome. You can stop begging your parents for a $20 bill when you go out, and you can finally treat yourself with the cash that you earned. Think of the thing that you love to do, and then imagine getting paid for it. As a counselor, I get to look after a bunch of sweet and funny kids all day, while also getting to do crafts and go on trips with them. It reaches a point where I stop thinking of this as a job where I receive compensation, but rather an enriching experience for all parties involved.

3. You are more productive.

"Studies have shown that employees who are engaged in their work have a higher productivity rate. Especially since employers are asking more of their employees than before, it helps to love what you do so that you can meet the challenges of the job." It's common knowledge that people work much harder when they care about what they're doing. More effort is put into assignments, and the quality of the work is heightened.

4. You will be happier.

No person is content with working at a minimum wage-paying job for their whole life. No person wants to be stuck as a cashier at a fast food place or in a retail store. No one wants that life. We want to pursue the things that interest and excite us, for these are things that give us life. In an ideal world, all people would be happy. There are people out there who are already living their dream, so why can't you live the same?

As of writing this, I have only worked my job for four days, and I already have high expectations for the future. Working with kids and being an example for them to follow makes me happy, and I have anticipated going to work each day this week. Some of the kids are needy, it is always loud, and there is hardly time for me to sit down, but I love it. I have sore muscles from all of this exertion, but it is worth it. I was once told, "If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life," and I am finally starting to understand what this means.