Balancing Practicality and Passion
Being college students at Tulane, a university filled with thousands of well qualified millennials with unique academic/career-related experiences, there is a constant underlying pressure to succeed. What is this definition of success? Getting an A on an exam, finding a solid internship in New York city, or being the president of 5 clubs? The competitive college environment that we are in can pressure us to choose certain majors, activities, career paths, etc. solely for the purpose of this idealized idea of “success.”
As a sophomore in the Freeman School of Business here, I have begun to realize just how much this mentality has taken over the lives of me and my peers. When I first started Tulane, there was definitely a hint of pressure to pursue a major that leads to a successful career. Almost everyone I knew was originally in the business school or pre-med, but that number quickly dwindled as people realized their courses might be more challenging than expected. I think the biggest issue with some of the majors in these schools is that they set us up on a set path at such an early stage in our lives. Yes, these planned agendas can be extremely smart, practical options. With the job applicant pool bigger than ever, having a major that automatically leads to a high paying career such as being a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc. can be very comforting. But, we are SO young. We have SO much of life ahead of us and so many twists and turns to come. It can be somewhat damaging to one’s potential to lock in to something like this. It may stop you from pursuing experiences that while may not bring forth the most monetary/rational value, may speak more to your passions.
Now, I’m not saying we should all drop out of school. Every person is different; every person has different things that excite and speak to them. Many people truly do LOVE working with numbers or participating in tricky chemistry classes. I just think it is crucial that throughout our academic experience here at Tulane that we make sure to listen to our heart sometimes. Don’t ever lose sight of what you’re passionate about. There are so many organizations to get involved with here solely for the purpose of enjoyment. I think that as you participate in these kinds of activities while studying subjects you are interested in, you can slowly start to figure out your own path in life. That daunting question of “what do you want to do when you get out of college?” can be so frustrating to hear when all you want to say is “I have absolutely no idea.” But, by trying out a variety of activities that inspire/excite you combined with learning what professional skills you have can help you start to piece together the answer to this question.
The balance of practicality and passion is so important in our lives, not only to lead us to success but more importantly, to lead us to true happiness. Once we can effectively blend these two conflicting concepts, we can start to really grow in to the people who we want to become. You never want to look back at life and think what if. What if I had pursued my passion? What if I had tried out this interesting class? What if I joined this club? Always listen to your brain, but never forget to stay true to your heart. You never know what could happen if you don’t try. By testing this mentality, you can develop a diverse, well rounded college experience that can hopefully lead you to a balanced career and life that excites YOU every day.