I often ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, because I’m still looking for ideas.
A lot has changed in the life of a young adult. In the past, the career that was an individual thing as a young adult was what they did every day until they could retire. Today many times what a student goes to school does not always end up being what he chooses as a career.
I believe that young adults are influenced by what their parents want them to do in life. This is usually because the parents did not fulfill their own dreams. They want their children to enter the dreams they gave up years ago. So that they can live vicariously through the achievements of their children.
Then you have the questions of whether you will earn enough money to support yourself, make a name for yourself, what people will think, and other status-qualifying thoughts. But it is very rare that they ask you what is your passion? What do you like and want to do? You have to go to college and learn a money-making skill to compete with the rest of the world as you begin to climb the imaginary ladder to a “better” life. What about going to school to learn something to learn and become a better person?
When I was of college age, I wanted to go to art school, my family gave me the “speech” that people with art degrees don’t make money and I was wasting my breath preparing for a horrible life of living sad and poor If you wanted to be successful in the world, you had to go to business school. (So, as a side note, I took three years of art classes in high school and received an “A” in every class. I took a semester of Accounting and failed horribly.) He went with a Bachelor of Business. My parents never had the opportunity to attend college and I know they were proud that I was the first to go, but Business College was not the fire I was pushed into.
I moved and went to college for Psychology and Journalism; It seemed like a good compromise. Two years later I dropped out because I ran out of money and was not eligible for final aid.
Twenty years later I went back and got my art degree and passed with high honors with a 3.85 GPA. I have been making art ever since. I admit it doesn’t pay all my bills but it feeds my soul and makes me happy. Money doesn’t buy happiness, but following your dreams does. When given a choice, always follow your heart, embrace what you are most passionate about. You will never be misguided.
I even thought I knew since I was young that art is where my passion lies. I still want to keep learning as much as I can. I am always looking for other things to learn. Children also know that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. I would rather know your dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up?