Should You Follow Your Dream or Play It Safe?
The Conflict
My whole life, probably like most, I’ve been told to go to college, get a degree and find a job that I can eventually retire from.
Well—if you’re reading this—then you’re probably like me and that was just never in the cards.
When I was little, I always imagined a bigger life. Not of fancy riches, per say, but one where I am doing the things I love in life.
I’ve always imagined myself as a writer, musician, actress, anything but a normal 9-5 job.
So now what? To go to college and appease everyone else? Or try to follow my dream?
The Let Down
Let’s rewind a little bit and go back to my senior year of high school. I was going to go to college to pursue a career in music.
I had taken piano lessons for 6 years. I dreamed of playing for a symphony. Now some things had happened that messed up my opportunity to go to school, and my plan was quickly derailed. So, I had to fall in line, work a regular out of high school job, and that was fast food for me. And that worked for a while. My family was a little disappointed that I didn’t go to school, but at the same time they sort of understood.
The pressure was building though. Comments and suggestion of what I should do with my life being pushed upon me…stress building, self-esteem dropping, and at some point, I was completely lost.
The Storm
I had found myself torn. I was working any job to make ends meet. Trying to be an adult. Trying to make a better life for myself. Trying to become who I always imagined I would be. Being lost in the storm—it was hell.
I tried a couple of times to start a business. I tried to get back into art. I tried to make money off of these things that I always said that I loved—and in the end I found myself—quitting. Nothing I did seemed to work.
Slowly my dreams were dying and I started looking at options to go back to school.
I tried music again and I couldn’t afford it. I tried other things that were more practical and just like everything else…more issues occured.
It was almost like I wasn’t meant for that. Like someone or something was stopping me.
Waking Up
This was a long process for me. It wasn’t days, weeks, or months. It was 5 years and I’m still waking up from the fog of the storm.
I was lost and confused. For a long time, I had lost myself and the things that I loved. I let the people around me try to dictate who I was and who I wanted to be.
I thought being lost meant failing. Really, it meant I was still searching.
What I Learned
I am 26 years old today as I’m writing this. I don’t have everything figured out but here’s a few things that I learned:
There is no right or wrong answer for this. Everyone tells you what to do, but they don’t know what’s best either. If you have faith in yourself then you can do anything.
It’s okay to go to college and it’s not the “easy way out”. It’s also okay to pave your own way and figure it out. Both equally require hard work and can be rewarding.
No one has it all together. Don’t let social media fool you.
No age is too old to start again. Why not try to live your dream?
Dreams come in all shapes and forms. I dream of being a writer. Some dream of being lawyers, doctors, pilots, etc. A dream is a dream.
The best thing you can do for yourself is start. Stop researching and questioning. BE PROACTIVE.
Growing takes time for everyone. Life really isn’t a race.
Take Away
If you took the time to read this because you’re questioning whether or not if it’s right or wrong to follow your dreams. I’m here to tell you that it’s simply up to you. If you want to go to college—do it. You’re not too old. You can still be successful. If you want to start a business, blog, a band—do it. It doesn’t matter if everyone else is trying to do the same thing. Not everything is about money. Some things are simply trying to live a fulfilling life. There’s nothing wrong with whatever avenue you take to get there.
And it starts with a simple question: Am I happy?
Remember this:
Believing in yourself is the best thing you can do.
If it was easy, it wouldn’t be worth it.
Not all advice is good advice. Live your life (within reason—don’t go crazy)
"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create."—Buddha
