Going into my junior year of college, I seem to have learned a thing or two other than academics. Your college experience is crucial. You go off onto an adventure of your own, pursue your dreams and learn things about yourself. And while I have spent an ungodly amount of time stressing over academics, I learned something I wish I would have known before now.

It’s SO important to understand what sparks you.

Okay, what the heck does that even mean?

It means to know what you’re passionate about. Ya know, the thing that makes your eyes light up when you talk about it? The thing that makes you hungry to learn more? The thing that makes you eager to grow? Yeah, that. Take your spark and run with it.

"You have to find what sparks you, so that you in your own way can illuminate the world." -Oprah Winfrey

A lot of times, we go to college with a major in mind. It pleases the parents and family, and seems to make a decent amount of money. It might not be your dream job, but it’ll pay the bills and support the family right?

I’m going to stop you right there. The future is definitely something to think about, along with your financial situation. However, it's also crucial to do what makes your soul happy.

To be realistic, not every dream is going to be stable. You might not make a lot of money. It might not be assured hours. It might only be temporary. It might not pay all of the bills. You might not need a 4-year degree. You might need a masters degree. You might have to work your way up the chain and take a ton of crap jobs. You might have to work two jobs to make ends meet. Your dream might be different than anyone in your family. You might have times where you struggle and second guess everything. Your dream might scare the living hell out of you, but I promise that it's worth it. Or, your dream job might be the opposite of all the things listed above. All of these things are okay. At the end of the day, if you are happy with what you're working towards, it's worth it.

Think of it this way; Two people take the same job. Person A went into the field because it looked nice on paper, money was good, and it was stable. They aren't entirely passionate about it, they just do the job and go home. It pays the bills, good enough. Person B went into the field because something about it just had them hooked. They completed their tasks, and their positive attitude radiated throughout the whole office. They assisted in extra work when they could, and was always eager to help someone else if they needed it. The job pays the bills, but it also fills up that person with joy. Their soul is happy. Which means they're happier in their home lives as well.

My point is this; everyone has a purpose in this world. There are thousands of different jobs made for different types of people. If we had everyone doing the same thing, the world would be crazier than it already is. It's OKAY to branch out. It's OKAY to follow your heart. You're bound to find a class or a job that you absolutely love. I'm not saying it will be easy by any means, but it will leave you starving for more, or give you a nudge in the right direction. You might have to live paycheck to paycheck, in a studio apartment, working as a crappy intern for a while. But the important thing is that you are pursuing what makes your eyes light up. Any job will make you tired, and not every day will be sunshine and rainbows but if you're living YOUR dream or on the path to your dream, that's what matters. Just do it.

"There is a spark of greatness in you just waiting to be ignited. Your possibilities span the universe. You have within you the potential to become someone remarkable. You were not sent to this earth to play small, to shrink; to fail. You were destined to make a difference. You were made for amazing things."- David Butler & Emily Belle Freeman