You know when you’re talking to someone about your future or whatever you’re thinking about, and they feel the need to add in their input? And when they respond its always negative or talking down on what you’re doing. Yeah, that’s the exact reason I don’t tell people more than they need to know anymore. People will feel like just because they are close to you or older, that you automatically need advice on anything you’re talking about.
Maybe I just want to tell someone good news or about plans for my future that I’m really excited about. But somehow people just know how to “well if it were me…” or “you should do this instead…” when it’s just nice to talk about my hopes and dreams for the future. But I realized I can’t share them with everyone, even if I really want to.
When I first started to think about college and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life I have always gravitated towards the environmental field. I knew that I wanted to “save the world” like some of my favorite superheroes on screen. But as soon as I mentioned an Environmental degree to the people around me the first question was “so what are you going to do with that?” Get a job and make money obviously.
Some of the people I loved my whole life were the first to cast doubt onto my future. So, I thought to myself “am I doing the wrong thing?” “Will I make enough money to have the kind of future I want?” I honestly thought about changing my major to something in the STEM field since my degree is technically in the arts. But then I realized that I don’t want to go to school for something I didn’t like and work 40-50 years in a field that I felt like I wasn’t doing what I loved. I never want to live a life where I’m regretting my choices because someone else didn’t believe it was best for me based on their experiences.
The people who doubted my major are doing what they want or are in the latter part of their life saying what they wished they’d done differently. I hate to break it to people, but they have lived their lives and now it’s time for me to live mine. Because who am I, if I’m not honest with myself?
Now that am finishing up college, I have earned enough credits to graduate early. Can you believe that people told me I was doing the wrong thing by finishing early? After all they money my family has spent for me to able to even go to college, now I need to “slow down” and “enjoy it while it lasts.” I’m going to be honest with you guys I have not enjoyed college at all.
Every day I think about how I’m ready for it to be over with. I’ve even had someone say that they hope I am not able to finish early. Simply because they do not want me to. In these three years I felt like I have learned so much about myself and the world around me. The people around you don’t always want what’s best for you, but you must go out there and do it anyways. I don’t have to convince anyone but myself that I am doing the right thing and I think I’m doing a pretty good job.
At some point in your life, you are going to have to live for yourself and not for others. It took me awhile to realize that because when you’re living for someone else whether it be for their approval or praise you are missing out on a world of experiences. Don’t let people cast their own doubts and fears into your plans if you know what’s best for you. As the saying goes, “comparison is the thief of joy” and joy can be hard to come by these days.