Before responsibilities set in
It’s internship season for all of us and after many restless nights stalking LinkedIn and printing resumes, I began pondering how I got here. Like most children, I did not grow up dreaming of going into the world of business. I wanted to design and make clothes; a dream that was crushed after I came home from school crying, unable to complete the hand turkey assignment because I kept cutting off its fingers.
Most of you probably have a similar story. I am sure most engineers do not come out of the womb dreaming of the day they can do linear algebra. So, how did we get here? Why and when did we decide to put down our dreams for the certainty of a stable paycheck? Growing up, we were surrounded by the stories of how an unlikely underdog rose to the top through grit and determination. Kids are fueled by the idea that if they work hard enough, they can achieve anything.Â
Now, while this idea is not necessarily true, I understand why it is pushed so heavily. Children need to believe that the world is fair enough for them to succeed so that they continue to have passion for the things they love. However, this idea begins to become an issue as the child grows into reality. There is never an explicit moment where one learns that the world is unfair. A person can have all the determination in the world… but if they are less than 6 feet tall they are probably not going to make it to the NBA.Â
SO, What do we Do?
Reality can suck, but it is something we have all had to face at one point or another. There comes a time when we must put down our passion and join society with our “real jobs”. Or do we? The issue is presented in the form of two options: follow your dreams or settle. Do you risk it all or live a life of monotony? The answer is neither. The hard truth is that not everyone can make their career their passion, but they can incorporate that passion into their lifestyle.Â
Life is not fulfilling when you continuously exist with an unfulfilled gap of where your dreams used to be. There are endless opportunities to find communities that allow you to continue pursuing your passion and share it with others. Recreation centers, community theater and even karaoke nights are simple but effective ways to keep you moving when life begins to feel stale. Life is all about balance. Having fun and exploring your hobbies are essential to being productive. Most importantly, remember that there is always time. It is not too late to pick up an old hobby and revive your spark. It’s your life, make sure to live it doing what you love.
