Julianna D.
Photography by Natalie Bell
If you’re reading this, it’s okay not to know.
One question is at the forefront of so many conversations I have these days: What do you want to do with your life?
This question can present itself in a number of ways. What do you want to do post-grad? Where are you working this summer? Or even simply, what is your major?
Personally, I hate these questions because the truthful answer is “I don’t know.”
I heard in a podcast the other day, “The hardest thing is not doing what you want—it’s knowing what you want.”
Coming into college I had no idea what I wanted to do career-wise and had no idea what I wanted to major in. Freshman year, most people will say that is “normal” to not know, yet it still felt like everyone around me had it figured out. The anxiety slowly started to build, and I didn’t know what to do. I just kept asking my dad “How am I supposed to know what I want to do if I don’t even know all that is out there?” And he would respond, “The classroom is where the journey starts, but exposure is what will lead you to a decision.”
At this juncture I realized my goal needed to be simplified, I didn’t need to know what I wanted to do with my life, I needed to gain exposure. My first step was getting involved. I applied to several organizations, including AKPsi, got in, and found myself surrounded by people who were extremely passionate. Whether it was their academics, career aspirations, a non-profit they had started, or a personal goal, their passion and enthusiasm was contagious, and it became blatantly clear that was what I was ultimately in search of.
“What are you majoring in?”
As I continued to hear this question asked time and time again, I have learned to listen to understand, rather than listening to respond. It didn’t matter that I didn’t know or have an answer, listening to the answers and aspirations of those around me could shed light on a possibility or career I wasn’t previously aware of.
Today, I am a junior. Do I have an answer to the looming question of what I want to do with my life? No. I am a Finance major now but still do not know how to invest money. What I have been learning is how to invest my time. There are only four short years of college. Yes, this is the time to learn in a classroom, but I have come to find some of the most valuable lessons are learned outside of the classroom. Be present. Listen and learn from those around you. But most importantly, don’t forget to spend time on you. Try something new, do something for you, and I promise you will learn a whole lot about what is the most important: you.
You will never figure out what you want to do if you don’t figure out who you are first. Do not look at the “have nots” and instead focus on what you have.
Look how far you’ve come! I am proud of you!
Julianna D., Southern Methodist University
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