Where The Heart Is: Career & Money

This blog post isn't to tell you how to earn money fast or how to successfully obtain your dream career. Instead it focuses on the moral question of, "do you work for the money or are you passionate about it?" 

One quote that goes well with this topic is by Confucius, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - but can humans survive with passion alone or does money really make the World go round? Are you willing to forego being financially secured to a crazy dream you want to accomplish? How do you prioritize your values when determining a career path and a professional life?

As an undergrad student, people never pass the chance to ask me, "What is your dream job? Have you thought about what you wanted to do after college?" When these questions arise, I get dumbfounded. I don't know whether I'm expected to have my mind made up or to be completely honest.

Throughout my education, I've learned that the smart thing to do was to make plans, 

short term plans + long term plans + back up plans + red code (emergency) plans = Route to Success

I learned that to be successful you have to make decisions quickly and to be taken seriously you have to know what you want, that there is always one correct answer. Living like this, I always felt that my life was a ticking bomb and if I didn't have a goal it was like wasting a breathe of air. As I grew older, I experienced many set backs, experimented with different lifestyles and social life has given me a whole different perspective. I realized that there is no real concrete answer, that a YES/NO is not satisfying enough. Then I was able to accept the present state of my life and feel a contentment I've never knew existed.A stillness. The quietness and comfort knowing that I don't have to decide on the spot; I don't need to know all the right answers. Now when people ask me those questions, I tell them I'm not sure which industry fits me best, but I'm excited to experience it all and figure it out. 

Going back to the original topic, I want to close by saying, life isn't all about the money, don't work too hard that you're suffocating your own soul. Remember you're alive to live not to work yourself to death. On that note, words from Tiesto- Work Hard, Play Hard :)

To my readers,
-dreams are worth fighting for-

Back to School Prep

Today the talk is about Back to School (BTS), I'll be discussing about things like how to present yourself to the real world, What are your goals? Where do you fit in? And the normal jitters and anxiety that some of you may feel right now.

ANALYZE YOURSELF & BE CONFIDENT IN WHO YOU ARE.
I remember my first day of college very well, moving into dorms, in a new city, knowing absolutely no one, and yet I still was very hopeful and excited. After all the years being confine under my parents' roof, there was a sense of rush about facing the unknown, and having this new freedom.

When you meet new people, either if it's from school or some sort of social gathering/event, you always want to make a good impression, to get along well with others, and to meet someone you can connect with either in terms of similarities, shared hobbies and interests, or someone completely different from you that's intriguing.

Does first impressions really matter?
It matters a lot. First you have to know yourself really well, What are your dislikes and likes? How to handle things in different situations? Next is asking yourself, who you want to portray yourself as? A lot of people may say, well myself, of course; but in certain cases there are people that wants to be presented to others in a "good light", meaning they act a certain way for the approval of certain people. Who you want to portray yourself as has a lot to do with your self-esteem or self-confidence.

I never saw myself as a person of low self-esteem but there are many people who know me that will beg the differ. Don't get confused of having low self esteem with being a internal person or keeping to yourself most of the time. Growing up, it was always easy for me to make friends. I liked meeting every single person in my classes and during lunch time, I would associate myself with the quieter and more reserved kids. Yes, I would get nervous as hell if i had to read out loud in class, or do a class presentation, or was specifically pointed out at, but who wouldn't? Even though I had that nervous feeling, I also have the passion to share my thoughts, and speak my mind to others.

I can understand why some people may choose to hide under a mask, maybe they're ashame, maybe they are hiding something, maybe they feel better that way, what ever it is, I'm not saying people shouldn't do this or people should do this,  

I'm saying don't be afraid, love yourself, believe in your capabilities, and share it with the World.

 
PLAN FOR THE WORSE.
When you're in school, you get this idea that planning things will make it all work out, as long as you plan correctly. Well, it wasn't too long ago, that idea completely blew up in my face. It's also human psyche to think that if you try your best, if you really really want it, that things will happen. I sound negative right now, but those short term plans, goals, wishes, whatever you want to call it has gaps, has flaws, has obstacles and complications, that's just life.

So the best anyone can do is to be a little more patient and be a little more understanding.

Whether if it's planning your goals for college, goals for a career, for a family, for a relationship, you have to leave room for Life to get in the way. Don't beat yourself up if things don't go the way you plan, hold onto those goals, don't give your goals a deadline but keep living as if you'll make it all happen one day.

I was always a good student in High School, and everyone including teachers, classmates, friends, and family thought I was going to excel in college as well. Sucks to say, I failed everyone including myself. With no one watching out for me, or reminding me of my reasons for going to college, I got myself into a unhealthy relationship. I had no idea of how to balance a love life, a social life, and most importantly my studies. I skipped more classes then I should. My mind was elsewhere during lectures and lessons. Don't get me wrong, the "unhealthy relationship" was indeed my first love, and it wasn't because of him that I did so poorly, it was because of myself! I allowed myself to get off track, to cling, to center him as my World. I was crazy. But, that talk about first love and relationships will be a new post sometime in the future...

To Recap, know who you are, what you value, what your morals are and put yourself in a pedestal, for that is what sets you apart, and that is what draws people to you. When you put yourself out there, don't get discourage if many people disagree with you, and are different from you. Take it all in as a learning experience, to experience diversity and different mindsets will allow you to be more open-minded and approachable. Lastly, if things don't go as you expect, don't just give up there, turn things around for yourself.


To my readers, 
Be you, stay strong, and spread the love :)