Thoughts on Discovering Your Passion

                At my last INT 95 class lecture, a librarian was the guest speaker. She had a very unique childhood, growing up under a father whom was an established author. She spent a lot of time traveling the world, and had always love the library as a peaceful and comforting area. This was very appealing to me, because it shows how her childhood influenced her to pursue the career path that she ultimately chose.

I think that this is the case with many of us—our childhoods play an immense role in what we choose to specialize in later in life. We spend a lot of time searching to complete a part of us that is missing. By narrowing our focus to a particular career or lifestyle that we love, we can satisfy that yearning for dedication to a particular passion that invokes a certain happiness within us. For me, that passion is traveling. I love traveling, but traveling is often a costly and demanding expenditure. However, through pursuing a career that is entwined completely and naturally in travel, I can follow my dreams while simultaneously securing a future for myself.

Sometimes, discovering what makes you happy is easier said than done. So much emphasis is placed on certain careers, we often forget what is out there. You could be following a route that so many others have taken before you, and perhaps it just doesn’t feel right. At UCSB, my INT 95 class and I visited a career counseling building. Understandably, some may shy from the idea of seeking career advice. At first, I was apprehensive to seek out the information that they provided. Sometimes, doesn’t it feel like we should absolutely know exactly what we are doing? We are adults, after all. However, this is not the case at all. As I continue to grow, I continue to realize that everybody else is in the same boat I am in. Though some of us may be more or less prepared for what lies ahead, it never hurts to have a little bit of direction and advice. The Career Services building can help with resume building, finding jobs, internships, or even discovering careers that you never even knew existed—all for free. It is an excellent service, and one that I can see myself using often in the near future.