Written by Rye Barker
We’re at that point in life when people stop asking, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Instead, they move on to ask, “what are you going to be?” It’s no longer a matter of dreaming and hearing that most everything is acceptable. It’s now to the point where you’re expected to make a decision. To figure out your life’s purpose and direction within the span of a few years, in which things are already confusing enough. So how do you navigate this?
Don’t Rush It
Even though people treat times like now, when you’re close to going to college and have the most time and energy dedicated to learning, as the big deciding factor in what you’ll do with your life… There’s no due date to when you can find your thing. Many of the richest and most successful people didn’t find their thing until their 30s, some later. For example, Colonel Sanders, the man who started the KFC franchise, started making chicken in his 60s. His business really only started going off when he was 65. Up until then, he was sleeping in his car most nights. Sure, not everyone is going to start a famous restaurant chain, but it’s never too late to start something and find success. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now.
Go With What You Like
If there’s something you’re passionate about, especially if it’s something you have been for a long time, see where that takes you. And even if it doesn’t work out, you still explored something that you enjoyed and meant something to you! However, in most cases, you have a better chance of finding a career that you’re good at and enjoy when you follow a path that makes you happy, instead of giving in to pressure from parents or others telling you that there are more profitable or “better” jobs out there. Plus for some jobs, would you really want someone who doesn’t want to be doing what they’re doing to have them? Would you want surgery from someone who just took the job for the money? No. You want the people doing their jobs to be there because they feel called to that position. And you’ll do your best work somewhere that you’re doing what appeals to you.
Be Open To Change
Don’t try to set everything in stone right now. As amazing as it is to have a clear path and know exactly what you’re doing, you’re going to grow so much as time goes on. What’s the perfect life to you right now might not still be the case to you when you’re thirty. Leave room for yourself to grow into who you are and still be happy! Don’t turn down opportunities, refuse to look into new things, or decline the chance to try a different path. It might turn out better than your previous plan, or it might not, but leaving things open will lead to better opportunities.
Things can take time to become clear. At this point in life, there’s a lot of pressure to feel like you have your path figured out. But no one really does, not right now, and sometimes not even into adulthood. There’s nothing wrong with that. As long as you’re moving forward and looking for opportunities you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. There are no due dates for your life, there’s no time that you’re supposed to be doing a certain thing, this is your life. And it’s going exactly where it needs to be going at the pace it needs to be going. Just keep going, keep learning, let yourself be open to change, and do what makes you happy.
