Some of you may or may not know this, but I was initially an undergrad studying Biology and planning to apply to PA school (physician assistant). Actually...I was foremost following a nursing path when I switched over to PA; regardless, I was always following a health career path - not because it was where my heart is, but because I thought it was the most comfortable decision. I thought that being in the healthcare field was safe - the salary is good, it's a relatively low risk job, and it's one of the most stable industry.
But life isn't about being safe - as cliche as it sounds - it's about following your heart. And if that requires taking a few risks, then you have to take it because you are worth taking a risk for. You know yourself better than anyone, so if your heart is just screaming "this is wrong", then why wouldn't you listen? Now, I'm not saying that following your heart is a fool-proof way of living the life you want, but don't you owe it to yourself to give it a go? Regardless of being successful or not, the fact that you gave it your all can bring a sense of fulfillment and it prevents you from dwelling on the ""what-ifs" and lets you move on to a new dream.
After years of being unhappy with my science courses and loosing my mind worrying about the fact that my grades are not up-to-par for PA school, I started feeling depressed and (to be blunt) stupid that while my other friends/classmates were able to keep up, I was always lagging behind. It got to a point, where I didn't even want to try anymore and I couldn't take my classes seriously anymore...which only made me more depressed that while everyone around me seems to be where "they're suppose to be at", I was so far that I couldn't even see the finish line.
Fortunately, I have the best family in the world! They saw what I couldn't (didn't want to) face, and instead of being disappointed (another BIG fear of mine), they were so supportive! They encouraged me to evaluate myself and assured me that they will support my decision 100%. The only thing they were "upset" about was that I kept my unhappiness from them. Where would I be without my loving family members?!?!
After much thinking and a lot of back-and-forth (stability vs. passion), I decided to change my major into Marketing. Why marketing? Well...it's an industry I've always been fascinated with . The methods of marketing is always evolving; everyday, people are always finding new ways to communicate with one another and marketing is all about using these platforms to effectively communicate with consumers. With marketing, I'm able to explore both the logical and creative aspects of businesses, and, for the first time in a very long time, I'm excited with my classes and eager to expand my knowledge about this industry.
I can't guarantee that I will be successful in this field but then again who can guarantee anything in life? All we can really do is work hard and do our best! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared because I am. But, with so many loved ones supporting me, I feel it in my heart that things will work out for the best! Besides, I thoroughly believe that I have a better chance being successful now that I'm doing something I'm passionate about rather than when I was trying to play it safe.
Whew...that was a long post, wasn't it? But I felt compelled to share these with you guys because, when you're feeling lost in your life and you're surrounded by people who know exactly what they want and are successfully doing what they need to do in order to achieve their dreams, it can feel pretty lonely. And I just want to assure you guys that it's okay if you're a little lost...the most important thing is to surround yourself with supportive people and follow what's truly in your heart. Remember:
"Only those who will risk going too far can possible find out how far one can go" - T.S. Elliot