This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Miami chapter.
What’s something that you do better than most people you know? Do you love it? Perhaps, you have found your niche.
Anais Goubert, an 18 year-old honor student at the International School of Broward, shared her definition of the term with HerCampus: “I define the concept of niche as something that suits you, that feels like home. Growing up in a French household, the word “niche” meant “nest” so I always thought of it as the nest of your passion…Each of us is looking for our thing, be it knowingly or unconsciously.”
It seems like we are always under some sort of pressure to find this elusive talent that is supposed to make us successful and happy. As a senior, I know I have been thinking about this concept quite a bit lately. But, why?
According to some sociologists, we are socialized to obsess over being ‘specialized’. A broadly educated person tends to focus on acquiring a niche in order to fit into a particular slot in an organization. We are told companies want experts on one thing not people who know a little about everything.
There are students, like Hurricanes’ Offensive Lineman Kc McDermott, who found their niche as kids and have stuck to it. Growing up watching his brothers play football, McDermott just knew he had to play too. “The first time I hit someone [while on the line] I was hooked,” said KC, “I knew this is what I wanted to do for as long as possible.”
Even though he found his niche early in life, he doesn’t think there is a specific moment in time when you are bound to find yours. “Just keep trying different things,” he advised, “you have to find a talent that makes you really happy.”
Corey Jaquez, a senior UM political science major, found his passion fueled talent while interning and believes everyone has one waiting to be discovered. “The way to find it is by taking different classes and reading on various topics,” he said.
It’s okay to be wrong about your niche. Students change majors and for many of us the answer to ‘what do you want to do when you graduate?’ is constantly changing. While this can be alarming, it can also be exciting and rewarding.
Ana Gutierrez, a 23 year old make-up artist, was going to school for interior design, but completely switched career paths when she realized she had been forcing a niche that wasn’t really hers. “Studying interior design I felt lost,” she explained. “When I started thinking about a career in makeup. I felt more comfortable, and I realized I could actually turn my passion into a job.” So, don’t get bogged down by what you think you should be doing!
It’s okay to be ‘broadly educated’. Your niche doesn’t have to be something specific and it is ok to have more than one. Goubert said she ” finds it difficult to name just one niche because she feels that it is possible to possess many “potential niches”. Personally, I struggled with this too. I know what I like and I know what I’m good at, but international relations isn’t exactly specific and security studies is not much help in the narrowing down department either. It took me awhile to realize that it’s fine to be broadly educated. It’s an asset to be versatile.
Nicholas Leconte, an Air Force Academy candidate, seems to have figured out something many of us have trouble swallowing: “I don’t have a niche and I’m not worried. I really think it will just come when the time is right.”
Don’t drown yourself in the fabricated need to be hyper specialized. Explore your talents and your interests and find your niche in your own time!