2008 Woodie Awards
My View: Choose a career because of passion, not just pay
By: Kristine Fetalco
Issue date: 10/7/04 Section: Opinion
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In terms of picking a major, many high school graduates tend to ask counselors which careers have the highest pay. Looking through the windows of the real world and following the path of success tread by others are practical ways to pick a career, but the field you're passionate about shouldn't be dwarfed by the high-paying one.
Jobs in health care are in demand nowadays, and new batches of high school graduates are subscribing to the majors in this field.
But before you join the bandwagon, ask yourself if it feels right for you. The major that all your friends chose isn't definitive of where you actually belong.
I say, choose a major you like instead of letting it choose you. There are only a few more heart-breaking things than finding somebody who is clearly talented and passionate in a certain area, like art, but majoring in a completely different field that has no relation whatsoever to his craft just because everybody tells him to do so.
Also, just because you do well in a certain area doesn't mean that you should automatically pick that major.
Maybe you don't belong to a major if it's all child's play for you. If a major is not challenging you to become your best, there is no excitement in that because it will quickly get old. You will be left without a feeling of accomplishment because you haven't reached your full potential.
It's like driving versus walking to a nearby place. When you drive, you're taking the shortcut: it gets you there quickly but you don't actually notice anything but signs and stops, because all you want is to get to the destination.
On the other hand, walking may be more exhausting, but you can't take the landmarks for granted since it's obligatory to set your eyes upon the interesting sights along the way. The latter gives you more out of the trip, and when you get to the destination, there's a story to tell everybody about your adventure.
Another dilemma that you will hear a student crying over is that he doesn't have something he is passionate about.
Jobs in health care are in demand nowadays, and new batches of high school graduates are subscribing to the majors in this field.
But before you join the bandwagon, ask yourself if it feels right for you. The major that all your friends chose isn't definitive of where you actually belong.
I say, choose a major you like instead of letting it choose you. There are only a few more heart-breaking things than finding somebody who is clearly talented and passionate in a certain area, like art, but majoring in a completely different field that has no relation whatsoever to his craft just because everybody tells him to do so.
Also, just because you do well in a certain area doesn't mean that you should automatically pick that major.
Maybe you don't belong to a major if it's all child's play for you. If a major is not challenging you to become your best, there is no excitement in that because it will quickly get old. You will be left without a feeling of accomplishment because you haven't reached your full potential.
It's like driving versus walking to a nearby place. When you drive, you're taking the shortcut: it gets you there quickly but you don't actually notice anything but signs and stops, because all you want is to get to the destination.
On the other hand, walking may be more exhausting, but you can't take the landmarks for granted since it's obligatory to set your eyes upon the interesting sights along the way. The latter gives you more out of the trip, and when you get to the destination, there's a story to tell everybody about your adventure.
Another dilemma that you will hear a student crying over is that he doesn't have something he is passionate about.