I remember a conversation I had with my father when I was in grade 10. I was trying to decide between choosing multiple university programs: mathematics, engineering, or – history.
Coming from an immigrant family, I was always told to choose stability. After all, stability equates to a steady stream of income, which is perhaps, perceived in many people’s eyes as success.
At first, he told me to pursue stability. “Math” he said, “Or do engineering.”
“No – I love history,” I replied.
A long pause followed, before he continued: “They all say, you should perhaps follow your heart.”
Within the next decade of my life, the terms: “follow your heart,” have soon become way too cliche for me to understand. I mean, I did try to do so in some form or another. Instead of pursuing sciences, I chose to complete two diplomas in makeup and fashion. I did this because I thought my heart was into those two fields, until I realized that both fields were in fact way too competitive and unstable.
In this case, I decided that the right answer was stability. So I tried out a couple of courses, only to land in a business program. At first, I was excited. After all, having a business degree is the gateway to securing a prestigious, corporate job. I put my full effort and attention into studying, memorizing, and practicing terminologies and questions for my interviews and assessments.
But then as soon as I secured my first few internships, I realized that I became disillusioned.
Everything on paper seemed to be going well. I was doing what I was supposed to do. And landing internships which I never imagined to land. Only sooner than later, to realize that the office environment wasn’t for me.
I remember dreading work everyday… surprisingly. I had to walk or commute to the place, then sit down, only to stare at a computer screen for hours. By midday, I was already worn out and tired.
I thought that there was more to life other than spreadsheets, meetings and calendars. Somehow, I was correct.
I looked back to my previous jobs; the ones where I felt alive and looked forward to. They all somehow involved creativity or direction; they either involved me teaching art, or guiding the creative process in some sort of manner.
I then asked myself: “Should I, after all, pursue passion?”
I embarked on this question. And a few months later, I landed a job which I enjoyed. Instead of sitting in an office, I was creating and teaching art to children and adults. I taught various mediums from painting, to drawing, and to crafts. Throughout this position, I realized that my heart belonged in the world of creativity.
And before obtaining this position, I almost forgot what passion feels like.
I forgot about the feeling of waking up and looking forward to completing a task. And I forgot about the feeling of wanting to learn and grow in a specific role. I thought that the feeling of passion didn’t exist in the world of work.
But as I light up whenever I talk about my work, I realize that passion does exist. And it brings joy amongst everyone. By choosing passion, we are choosing ourselves first, and we are choosing others first.
So perhaps, out of all advice, choose to follow your own heart.
