Excuse me for a moment while I get on my soapbox. I’d like to speak on behalf of all of those, myself included, that don’t have a piece of paper that says we went to college for four or more years, studied a specific subject and are now “experts” in said field and therefore are more knowledgeable and more capable of handling a job in that area. This is one of those things that just annoys me to no end. And I’ll tell you why.
There is a lot of pressure on teenagers as they finish high school to figure out what they want to do. But how many times do people change their mind during college and switch majors? And how many times do people change careers? Why is there so much pressure to “figure out” our lives?
Speaking as one who has changed her mind several times over the years, I’m glad that I didn’t go to college and get a degree….yet. I’m not apposed to the idea, I just don’t want to waste time and money trying to figure it out when I could be living my life and earning money while I explore the options. I like the ideas of internships and apprenticeships. Why don’t we do that more often? See, I’m a hands-on learner. I don’t do very well trying to learn from a book. I have to be doing and seeing in order for things to sink in and make sense to me. But I’m also a fast learner, so it works for me. The tough part sometimes is finding someone who is not only willing to teach you, but a good teacher as well.
If you get done with high school and you don’t know what you want to do, maybe you should just take some time off and work and figure some things out. Find an area you have an interest in and get a job in that area. Then, if you love it, go to school. On the other hand, if you hate it, cross it off your list and move on. Don’t beat yourself up and think that you’ve just wasted time. No, quite the contrary, you’ve found something that you can cross off your list so you can go to the next interest. I’ve heard the excuses as well, “Well, if I don’t just go to school now and get it over with then I’m afraid I’ll lose my motivation and never go”. If that’s your thinking, then you’ve got bigger problems in the “lack of motivation” department that needs work. Or, “If I go to school now or go to this specific school then my parents will pay for it. Otherwise, I’ll have to go it alone”. Then go it alone! You’re an adult now and it’s time you started acting like one. Who cares if you accrue some debt along the way? It’s smart debt that you’ll pay off with a job and if you die, the government writes it off. It’s a pretty good deal if you think about it. Debt doesn’t have to be an omen hanging over your head. Most people have some. Some have a lot. Truthfully, I’d rather have debt and live my life to the fullest then concentrate on just eliminating it and miss out on opportunities. (I realize all the Dave Ramsey followers are shaking their heads right now, but that’s okay. They’ll live.)
I’m in my mid-twenties and there are so many things about my life that I have not yet figured out. But there are a lot of roads that I know I don’t want to go down. How? Because I’ve been there and learned that those particular directions are not for me. And really that is one of the best ways to learn. You have to get out and try things in order to know who you are. Sure, it can be painful. Often is actually. And it can be very frustrating too. But these are the things that shape us into who we are.
So if you find yourself frustrated with where you’re going, or not going. And if you’re tired of people wondering what you’re doing wandering around trying to figure out your life, know that you aren’t alone. There are lots of people in that same boat. And at this point in my life, I’d rather be in the boat going somewhere then stuck on land wishing I were at sea.
Here’s an excerpt from one of my favorite books:
Congratulations!
Today is your day!
You’re off to great places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go…
You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there”. With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town…
And will you succeed?
Yes, you will indeed.
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed).
Kid, you’ll move mountains…
Today is your day.
Your mountain is waiting.
So… get on your way. ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, The Places You’ll Go
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