Clueless High School Graduate, Passionate Worker

If you are a clueless, recent high school graduate and not sure what to do next, Calm Down. It is perfectly normal to have no idea what to do next or what field of study to go into. If you were to generally ask adults, they would probably tell you that when they were your age, they too could not exactly tell you what they liked doing.

“So, I’m good at math, so I think I’ll do something related to that… hmmm… accounting, maybe? Or maybe engineering?”

“Yeah, everyone says I’m good at writing and drawing. That’s why I took journalism.”

And here we begin the cycle of students enrolling in university or college in courses that they will eventually drop out from.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with changing courses or switching fields, IF you’ve found, at some point that you are probably better at something else and it changes the sails to that direction - Congratulations! But don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that good mathematicians aren’t or can’t be passionate engineers or accountants.

Finding out what you are passionate about is no easy feat. It is an intricate process and it is hard to identify even when it is staring right at you in the face. We often let our anxious thoughts, perceptions and false expectations blind us into doing something else than what we are excited about.

We just end up being ‘good’, and we don’t push for ‘great’.

(psst.. It is believed that people going through midlife crisis usually find themselves asking themselves the meaning of life and figuring out that they never enjoyed the job they’ve been doing all their lives.)

There is no highway or paved road to finding out what you’re passionate about, but here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Just because you’re good at it, doesn’t mean you like it.

Most of the time, we equate what we’re good at doing with something that we like doing. This is a trap most of us fall into in the midst of making decisions. A skill can be acquired through lots of training and at the end of that, you’ll be great at it. But the question is, did you enjoy every moment of it? If you could, would you relive the process of it?

2. What do you love talking, learning and teaching others about?

What is that ONE thing that constantly preoccupies your mind? Something that you could spend effortlessly learning about? Ask family and friends that you are close to for help to figure out what is it that you say or do that seems to come naturally from you. Examine how you feel at those moments when you speak about it to others.

3. Examine what you frequently read, shows you watch, places you visit.

What is the common theme? What is it that you spend your time, energy and effort into?  Education? Religion? Philosophy? Political Science? Economy? Does it buzz your soul? Give you that sparkle in your eyes?

4. Take the time to get involved.

“I think I know now, but I’m still really unsure” Look for opportunities that can help you decide. Look for internship opportunities in the line that you might want to pursue, or get involved in volunteer programmes. Industrial training gives one the first-hand exposure to what the industry really looks like. Not only does it help you decide if you’re going to stick in this for the long haul, but it also levels up your resumè in the future. Do not be afraid to take more time off to gain experience - real world experiences teach you things they do not teach you in books.

Passion feels something like when you are motivated so much more than just merely finishing a job, it is doing the very best you can, if not revolutionizing it entirely. Of course, passion can come at a smaller level but still impact your work greatly. When you find it, there’s almost no parting from it, because it is that vibe that pushes you to accomplish things that you’ve never thought you could have done. Build your life around something you love – that is something you would not regret.

The most important thing though, is the satisfaction and joy that you get out of it.