Asking Questions About Your Future
So as I vlog every day in April, I’m thinking more and more about things that have bothered me for a long time. My neighbor burning incense all of a sudden for instance (at least I hope that’s what’s wafting into my room at the moment) is not among these big questions. Distracting as it may be.
The fact is that there are a lot of things that I was brought up in the states to believe or to build my life upon that haven’t proven so stable as a foundation. I can list a bunch of them, it’s amazing how much you take for granted that isn’t remotely true, but I decided to start with two things that sound really good: “You can be anything you want!” and “College is the obvious next step in life.”
My sister is one of my heroes because she knew college wasn’t for her, and she decided not to go.That’s a pretty big way of going against the flow, considering where we’re from. She pursued photography and traveled the world did all sorts of cool stuff, and when she finally settled into work she chose the place she wanted and tackled a really difficult job. She’s learned a ton through all of the challenges and hardships that she’s faced, and I truly believe she’s better off for that life experience than had she gone to college (especially since she can’t sit still for more than five minutes at a time).
The thing is that so many of us lack the certainty that college is for us, but simultaneously have this idea that it’s the obvious next step. It’s what we’re supposed to do if we want to succeed, often it’s what we’re expected and even coerced into doing. Among the many things in life you can be coerced into doing, attending college is certainly not among the worst, but it is among the most expensive. My strong suggestion, my push, is that you not attend college (uni, for my UK friends), unless you know what it is you want to do after college, and how it will specifically help you attain those goals.
Because (as I mention in the other video) while it’s ok to dream big, you also have to be realistic. Your dreams can come true, you can accomplish a lot in life, but you will have to work very hard to make it to whatever level you’re aiming for. Some dreams will require more of you than others. So dream big, and work hard. And know that failure is just a part of the learning process. You’re expected to fail and it provides valuable opportunities to learn (something I wish I had known before my first few big failures).
But enough reading, here are some videos:
If you went to college already, what advice would you give someone thinking about it? If you’re pre-college, what questions do you have?
Seriously: work, travel, volunteer, do something that you’ve never done before and see where it takes you!
