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Pursue Your Passions MAG
Someone once told me, “You're wasting your time on a career that will only lead to starvation.”
Ouch, right? But before I go on, let me give you some background on the career in question.
I want to be a journalist for a newspaper or magazine. After years of exploring my interests, this is what I have decided on. But I'm still affected by what others say, which led me to consider the other side of the argument.
As technology continues to advance with unbelievable speed, print publications are steadily being replaced by websites that update their content practically every time you refresh the browser. Even on my own campus, few seem to care about newspapers anymore; sections of the school paper lie in puddles, and muddy shoe prints soil the pages that took the editors weeks to complete.
More disturbingly, the country is in the midst of an economic downturn, which is leaving people in a perpetual state of uncertainty. And by the time my generation graduates from college, we will be part of a workforce that is highly competitive and incredibly unstable.
But I stand firm in my decision to be a writer. Why? For the idealistic, simple, yet powerful reason that it makes me happy in a way that no amount of money ever could.
Rarely have I found others who think this way, and it always disheartens me to hear students trying to map out their lives based on factors other than pursuing their passions.
Factor number one: parents.
Parents definitely have a right to be involved in their children's lives, but sometimes their words create more stress than encouragement. Instead of trying to make their children happy, as they may have intended, parents can end up squeezing their children's hopes and desires until nothing remains but the hard, coarse seeds of a cruel reality. True, being realistic is important, but everyone needs the chance to dream in order to find happiness, and parents should understand this.
Factor number two: money.
A conversation I had with my college friend one afternoon illustrates this point.
“What happened?” I asked after hearing he had switched majors. “I thought you wanted to be a photographer.”
“I do,” he said. “But there's no money in it. Don't worry,” he added, probably sensing my concern. “I'm happy where I am.”
I really wanted to believe that, but as we continued talking, he constantly interrupted me to point out the beauty of this view and that view, saying he wished he had his camera with him. I didn't know what to think anymore.
Naturally, there's no way to predict where our paths will lead us. In fact, our ideas and plans could very well change down the road. However, at this stage in our lives when so many voices are telling us who we should be, we need to nurture our individual dreams, not stifle them, because they may be the only things left that define us.
Of course, listen to your parents and consider the financial implications of your choices. But keep in mind, too, that you, and no one else, will ultimately have to live with the results of your decisions.
And who knows – maybe that person is right, and I will starve because of my choice to major in journalism. But after witnessing the unhappiness of those who didn't pursue their passion, I am convinced that the worst suffering of all is to not allow yourself to do what you truly love.
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This article has 36 comments.
After just having one of "those" conversations last night from people thinking I was crazy and that needed to "not think so much", this article was just what I needed.
It's awfully frustrating when you seem to be the only one in your circle of friends or family that thinks that pursuing something that you love and believe you can make a timeless contribution in is the intelligent choice.
Although I can understand why people adopt a "security" way of thinking, it pains me also to see people stubbornly place survival first and their passions second, and then convincing themselves that life is 9 parts misery and 1 part good.
We who choose passion over security have at some point considered or been shown the risks and dangers or our proposed actions - and they are worth noting, especially when someone is truly concerned about us.
As the author so rightly says - pursuing our passions could end up with us being perpetually broke. It's a possibility, but surely this is a temporary setback when we think about the happiness we could potentially find and the genuine good we could give to the world, than if we were to never look in the first place.
Meheheheheh. Moi: I want to be a fictional writer, and I actually have a book thats about twenty-six thousand words so far; me and my friend are on chapter nine tomorrow.
And yes, I would love to go to college to write fiction. But the idea itself is fictitious. -___- because if I don't get published, then...
So, instead, off to be a neuroscientist. I may not be as happy there, but...
Hello there! I'm new in here and I've written nothing so far... but I joined in because, among other things, I wanted to discuss my interest on Journalism (same as you!). So what you said really spooke to me. I'm also told that my carrer option is no good.
Back here in Portugal (yes, I'm Portuguese!) there's also this mentality that anyone that is not studying on Sciences, Maths or Technology will end up begin on the streets. Sad thing!
Young people often have to swallon comments about their dreams that only dismotivate them. Money is still the main factor - specially when you live in a country not so developed. As a result, many professions are considered to be trash. And there are people who like to scrub that on your face.
I'm know I'm not saying anything new, but in my last Englis lesson we debated this problem. It reminded me how disancourejing this way of thinking is.
But... you know what? After wasting my 10th grade on Arts (here in Portugal, when you arrive at the 10th grade, you can pick an Area, in which you study pre-defined disciplines related to the nature of that area), I decided I wanted to be a journalist.
I gave up drawing; then I started again on Letters. This time I'm convicted of my dream, despize hearing (again and again) that this area is nothing but a good way to unemployment.
I don't let it stop me: I now believ that you can succed no matter what you do, as long as you are willing to make all the efforts needed, and you stay true to your values. It's all about putting the maximum of passion in all you do - so thanks for reminding us of that!
p.s: I hope I didn't wrote many mistakes; also, in school, we study Britanic English... so I'm praying I made myself clear! :)
Nicely done.
But we all know that some jobs that existed 20 or 30 years ago don't exist now and the people working in those fields aren't getting any work. Or pay to feed themselves.
Of course we should all have a chance to pursue our passions, but we should keep in mind that someday we're going to want maybe settle down and have some kids. You may be fine with starving yourself, but why the kids?
There's another option you could choose. We can tell you love writing and that's what makes you go for it, but there are other fields that let you write too. The more you write there, the better.
Next time, you could have a counterargument paragraph too to show you realize how and why people might disagree with you and try to prove them wrong.
This is so great and very true! I have lots of interests and passions and am for sure going to pursue them in college, even if I don't know what I'm going to "do" yet with my life or how much money I'll make.
Thanks and PLEASE keep writing and believing in yourself and the power of true passion. Good luck, I really think you can make it if you give it your all.
