Fill in the
blank: When I grow up, I want to________.
Chances are
you’ve all been asked this question before and your answer was probably
anywhere from becoming a firefighter, to driving a convertible, or making it
big in Hollywood as an actor/actress. Anymore it’s not quite that easy. When you
realize that you’re already in the midst of that “grown up” stage, it gets even
harder. You have to really ask yourself, What are my goals? My hopes? What do I
want the driving force of my life to be, and how do I make it happen? These are
all questions I found myself asking. With college enrollment just around the
corner (no joke, it’s tomorrow), I’ve taken time to be real with myself and try
to answer those questions.
It can be
especially difficult when you’re getting all sorts of advice from friends,
family, neighbors, your dog, the squirrel in the tree next to your bedroom
window (okay, you get the point). Of course, it’s always a good idea to get
advice and opinions of those around you, but in the end you have to remember
it’s your life, they’re your hopes and aspirations, and ultimately, it’s up to
you to choose what to pursue and what not to pursue. Experiment. Try new things. And for heaven’s
sake, don’t forget to pray and ask God about it!
Without
trying to make you fall down for an afternoon snooze (in other words, I hope I
don’t bore you), I personally have struggled tremendously with finding my place
in the world, or where my puzzle piece fits if you will. For the past six or
seven years I thought for sure I was destined to become an engineer. It wasn’t
until the end of senior year that I realized I wasn’t really sure I actually liked engineering. I didn’t want to let
anyone down, including myself, so I just kept at it, hoping eventually it would
grow on me. Fortunately (no, that wasn’t a typo of unfortunately), that time never came. I realized engineering isn’t
what I really wanted, and more importantly, it’s not what God wanted for me
either. I say fortunately because I’m grateful for the fact that it didn’t work
out; I know I was meant for something different. After months of praying, I
feel like a new door has been opened for me. My gifts, my passions, and my
aspirations all point to eventually attending medical school and until God
tells me otherwise, that’s where my heart is headed.
If you’re
struggling like I was, I encourage you to brush aside the nonsense the squirrel
outside has to say because I’m sure it’s nuts (pun intended), and take time to really
think and pray. What unique features contribute to your individual puzzle piece
and where does it fit into the rest of the world’s puzzle? Be patient, and I
can assure you that your piece will fall into place.
XOXO,
Mary Kate
