Life as a high school student was an era of growth. Whether it was stage managing the Spring musical or captaining the baseball team, you were encouraged to indulge in personal passions. Building your resumé meant being well-rounded, and dedicating countless hours to hobbies became essential.

This is ironic to me, considering that many students do not pursue their hobbies as vocations. Living “realistically” and “comfortably” is more important than living to the fullest. We spend all this time building skillsets towards lives we will never lead and occupations we will never have, only to wipe them away when the time comes to study for a true career.

When those late nights rehearsing become midnight cramming, or Student Government meetings turn into tailgates, what is left of yourself?

We often base our majors on who we want to become rather than what we know ourselves to be. While partying and socializing can fill in the gaps between classes, they will never replace those passions left in high school. Maybe you won’t see it right away, or maybe it will almost never phase you, but the day your eyes light up seeing someone else pursue your dream life – you’ll miss every second of it.

As someone who spent her life focused on the Arts, then applied to Florida State as a Business major, I lost a huge part of myself. While I am still enthusiastic about the field I am studying, and would not change my major, I am starting to understand why it took so long to choose in the first place.

Taking on the transition from high school to college means condensing your life into prioritized segments. With 500 students per class, professors won’t get on your case to study harder for your next exam. There are not any parent-teacher conferences. Your future is in your hands and the weight is on your shoulders. Activities which felt so important to you in the past can seem a waste of time and often lose any priority status.

After months of feeling like something was missing my life, but not being able to pinpoint why, I began occasionally going out with friends to see local musicals. It hit me, when I got choked up during a funny scene, that I really really missed performing. With hundreds of clubs and organizations, Florida State University has more than enough to offer. I was limiting myself more than my community ever could.

Slowly, but surely, I’m making plans to audition for smaller performance groups. I’m finding ways to volunteer my time towards the Arts. If you can’t pursue your hobbies in full, that does not mean you shouldn’t pursue them at all. We’ve grown into the people we are today through the passions that shaped us. Push yourself to continue, and who knows what you’ll find?

This is a calling to all past athletes, artists, and performers alike: Your time is not over.