As a soon-to-be college graduate, the pressure to find that perfect job is slowly creeping up. Some people find jobs quickly and accept offers shortly after their interviews, others struggle to find a job that fits their needs and skills, which is also okay. As I notice my colleagues and classmates begin to apply to positions and accept offers, the stress begins to creep up. Why is my search going differently?
“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
– Confucius
This quote from Confucius is one of my favorite quotes because it’s not only great advice to follow, but it is also very true. In the past, I have had my fair share of jobs that I absolutely did not love and it wasn’t because I didn’t like to work, it was because I wasn’t passionate about what I was doing at those jobs. Passion is a very powerful emotion. When you’re passionate about something it gives you the motivation to do things and to do them well.
Photo credit: Jen Basulto
I am a big believer in pursuing your passions because I have come to find that when you are doing something you are passionate about that is when you find your true bliss. A few years ago I was at a point in my life where I needed to decided what I wanted to do as a career. I had narrowed my choices down to two: work in the entertainment industry or work in the sports industry. I was leaning more towards the former. I knew I needed to get an internship in both industries to help with my decision and ended up landing an internship, which later turned into a job, with the University of California, Santa Barbara men’s soccer team.
It was here where I found what I was most passionate about and where I eventually found my bliss. Everyday I went into work with a spring in my step that I did not have in my previous jobs; I truly loved my job. It’s because of this experience, that I have chosen to pursue my passion of sports and make a career out of it. More than anything I am passionate about soccer and hope to one day be able to pursue my passion and work for Major League Soccer or for U.S. Soccer.
It’s not always easy to figure out what you love and what you are really passionate about to make a career out of it. The Huffington Post has a great article on how to identify and pursue your passions. The article provides a step-by-step plan on how to pinpoint what you are passionate about and ways on how to turn that passion into your career.
I found my passion, now it’s your turn to go out there and find yours.
