Growing up, we all dream about what we’re going to do when we're older. And if you’re anything like me, that changed quite frequently. First, I wanted to be a dancer, then a fashion designer, a lawyer, and even a doctor, due to an obsession with Grey’s Anatomy -- you know you did the same thing so don’t deny it. Then you realize there’s too much math, science, or English, and you go right back to square one. But once I walked across that stage at graduation, I was hit with the realization that I actually need to decide what I want to do when I’m older. I was knocking on the door of adulthood and I needed to figure out what I was going to be, and that terrified me.
If you aren't blessed with immediately knowing what profession you want to go into - and yes I’m speaking to you people who want to be doctors - then you know the struggle that goes into picking your path. You do all the career quizzes, research online, and try to find which profession has the qualities that you posses. Then, once you narrow that down a little, you have to pick which one you can actually see yourself doing, and that’s where it gets hard.
You face the pressures from everyone you know asking, "what’s your major?", "where do you see yourself in 10 years?", and "what’s your dream job?". You see your friends who have this perfect plan, or at least have an idea about their future, and feel overwhelmed because you can’t answer that yourself. But the truth is that most people don’t know, and that’s okay.
College is the time when you figure out who you are; what you want to do with your life. Contrary to popular belief, it is 110% okay to not know what you want to do when you start college. That’s what it’s for. You have unlimited possibilities through classes and clubs to try different things and see where you fit the best. As you go along, you will find out the path that’s right for you. Take advantage of all the services and opportunities you have, because that’s part of what you’re paying for!
Some of the best resources you will ever have with helping you figure out your life are your professors. They are all here because they are specialists in their fields and genuinely care about your success. Sure you will have some that you may not connect with, but chances are you will come across at least one who changes your life. You’ll have that moment when you’re sitting in class in between checking Facebook and taking notes when your professor says something that catches your attention and makes you think, "maybe I can do that". Even though it can seem scary at first, go to their office hours! Most of the time they can give you advice and help you determine what you may be interested in. Making those connections is key, so don’t miss out!
Aside from the obvious high funds that are associated with going to school, it doesn’t matter how long you’re there. You no longer have to keep up with the rest of your class like you did in high school; you only have to keep up with yourself. What matters is that you are happy with the path you are choosing. It isn’t your parents, your teachers, or your friends who will be going to your job day after day--it’s you.
When you finally find that path and have that “Aha! moment”, and you will have it, it will all be worth it. All of the stress, the late nights worrying about what your future holds for you, and the endless meetings with advisors are all over. You can let out a sigh of relief and finally feel excited for what lies ahead.
Life is filled with many mistakes and ups and downs. Chances are your career will be no different. However, it is up to you to figure out what career that will be. Take chances and makes those mistakes, and enjoy the path you take to figuring out who you are and what you want to be.
