If you’re like me, you have probably heard the phrase “follow your passions” since you were little.
When it relates to finding a career, the dream is to end up doing something you love—something you are passionate about. However, passion is only one ingredient in the recipe for a satisfying career. A surprising number of students at Dixie State University are still undecided. According to the records at Dixie State University, 14 percent of students have undecided majors.
The pressure is high for young adults to figure out what they want to spend the rest of their life doing. This pressure can lead many to have anxiety and to put off deciding a field of study as long as possible.
Kyle Wells, dean of the school of business and communication, wrote an article in St. George Health and Wellness titled “Career Choice: A Journey of Self-Discovery,” which focuses on three key components to having a rewarding career. Those components are passion, gifts and market value.
A passion can be defined as something you really care about or enjoy doing. For example, a person who enjoys snowboarding may find themself working as a lift manager at a resort. Unfortunately, market value comes into play because it is hard to make a comfortable living as a lift manager alone. What if this person is gifted at math and money management? They wouldn’t feel fully satisfied in a position that doesn’t utilize their gifts. It’s hard to say what this individual’s ideal career would look like, but it could fall somewhere along the lines of an accountant for a ski resort, where all three components are combined.
“A perfect balance is different for every individual,” Wells writes.
I worry much of my direction at school was motivated by a want to make money instead of taking a journey to realize what my gifts and passions are. I’m slowly learning how to realize these things, and as I integrate my gifts and passions into my work, I find it infinitely more fulfilling. By trying a lot of different past times, I’ve come to learn I deeply enjoy writing and conceptual thinking. However, money seems to run our lives and the sad truth is, some of us may end up being wildly financially successful, but still not feel fulfilled.
Wells mentions in his article that many financially successful people find little satisfaction in their jobs. In fact, according to a study done by the William & Mary Law School, CEOs are depressed at more than double the rate of the general public.
Getting a degree is important, but the words on your degree shouldn’t confine you to a particular industry or career path. Wells wrote that in today’s age, it isn’t uncommon for someone to not only change jobs, but change entire fields of work.
“Ultimately, a career choice is more of a journey than a destination,” Wells wrote. “It is a delicate balance of finding happiness and contentment in the present, while diligently preparing for the next opportunity.”
