It has always been said to me that interesting people, at 22, don’t know what they want to do with their lives. The most interesting people, at 40, still don’t. I think about this concept often, and wonder; who is really monitoring our life goals?
If you were raised by wolves, nudists or even the average American parents who love you, the inevitable question was often asked of you; “What do you want to be when you grow up.” I realised at an early age that my honest answer, “a pirate” often raised one eyebrow too many. “Not the mean ones,” I would detest, “but the fun ones, with lots of rum and jewelry.” Still sounds like a fun life to live.
It is somehow already the end of March. Before we know it, we will be watching our friends, our classmates and for some of us, our own feet walk across that stage at the Patriot Center. We (almost) have to really answer that question. This is your life after all, you are the only person who has to approve what you are doing with it. Sometimes, you will hate going to work, often you will really hate it, but the goal is: do something that you love. Life really is too short to be miserable, and to lack passion in your profession. You would never have picked a college major that sounded absolutely abysmal and completely uninteresting, would you? Your life should be treated the same way. Money is hard to come by in this current economic climate, and sometimes settling may have to happen, but it should always be a transition. When you settle, make it a point to know that this is only a temporary period in your life. Sometimes, you may have to tell old women over the phone that your employers cannot insure them anymore, or you may be forced to bring seven diet cokes to a 300 lb woman. That is life, but it is temporary. If you are reading this article, chances are you go to George Mason University, or at least some other, mildly reputable school. You have no excuse not to succeed. Obviously success is defined differently by each of us. Someone has invested in your education, which means someone believes in you. This is the land of opportunity, and lucky for you, you are already here.
Believe in yourself.