That time is quickly approaching. In about one month from today, I’ll say goodbye to my life in college and move on to the “real world”. I’ve been dreading this day for a long time. After high school I had a lot of pressure to go to college so I could find a well-paying job and make something of myself. Of course, I had no fucking clue what I wanted to do for the rest of my life at 18. Who does? So I went to the local county college to pursue a degree in Liberal-idunnowhythefuckiamhere-Arts for two years. I had hoped that by the time I was ready to transfer to a University and pursue a bachelor’s degree, like my parents wanted, I would have a better idea of what I wanted to do. And of course, at the end of my 2 years, although I had grown fond of smoking marijuana regularly, I still had no clue as to what I would do for a living. Not to disappoint the family, I blindly continued headfirst into the most general degree program I could find, Interpersonal Communications. I figured, hell, I don’t know what I’d want to use it for, but there’s got to be way more career options with it than with a degree in Finance or something. After my four years in the college world, I can safely say I’ve learned a lot of interesting, yet random, information that I’m not sure how to apply to real life. Needless to say, I have had a bit of anxiety as to what my next move will be after college.

The only thing I’ve ever really been sure about is I want to experience new things in new places. Every chance I’ve gotten during summers and breaks, I try and go somewhere and try something new. Seeing new cities, meeting new people, going on trips to shows, or hiking and camping, seeing the natural world in various regions, all gave me enormous satisfaction. However, I’m afraid of having massive debt, so I’ve worked constantly to pay for my college education, even during breaks. I’ve longed for a time when I could take several months to experience a new place fully. To wake up every morning excited for the possibilities of what I could learn, instead of bored at the idea of what I would have to learn to fulfill the “bachelor’s degree required” section of a job application, that’s what I want. I’m tired of doing things because people told me I had to do them to be successful. Who are you to tell me what being successful is anyway? I define my success by being free and happy. After this semester is over, I will finally be both of those things. I’m going to travel, definitely, and that’s enough. I’m done worrying about my career. I’m not going into a field when I’m not sure about it just because it’s expected of me. That’s a sure fire way to hate my life forever. I managed to save up some money working part-time during school, and I’m going to use it. I need to experience the world I live in, learn about it, and discover my passion. I’ll pick a career eventually, but it’ll be something care deeply about, not just a comfortable paycheck. Right now, it’s adventure time. I might not get another chance to explore the world like I can being young, but there will always be time for me to start working for the rest of my life. I’ll find my calling when I find it, but I won’t worry about it. The present is all that matters. An opportunity will present itself, for now I’m just going to enjoy life. Just typing that out felt good.

Feeling worried and anxious about the future is useless, and will most likely lead you down a road that provides no happiness or fulfillment. There are too many people who jump right into the grind in some shitty field just because they are afraid to try something they might actually enjoy. They go with the safe route, good pay and benefits, even if they have little interest in the actual work. Fear is no reason to pick a career. A friend of mine over at the Word of Charlie has an uncle who moved out West after high school. Everyone in his family told him it was a bad idea, and he would fail, but he made something of himself. He opened three businesses, became an active member of his community, and now flies bi-planes around the country in his free time. This article lists dozens of famous people including Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, Oprah, etc. who came from nothing and became enormously wealthy and powerful. The thing these people all have in common is they had a passion, and they worked at mastering that passion. People succeed everywhere, all the time, and no one needs to worry about it. As long as you’re willing to put in the work and contribute something to this world, there will be a place for you. The most important thing is to find that thing that fuels you, that keeps you wanting to put that work in, and keep doing it. I don’t know what that is for me yet, but I know I need to find out, and I will with time. While I’m waiting, I will enjoy and love the fuck out of my life. It’s all that really matters.

“If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” – Henry David Thoreau