I’ve spent the last few days in sunny San Diego, visiting a friend from high school who is finishing up college this year just like me. She took the brave leap after finishing high school to move out to SD, get a waitressing job and start at community college. Now that she’s just finishing up her four-year degree, without a regret in the world, I wonder if that’s something I can do as well when I graduate.
Many of her friends out in SD I know from high school, or are friends of friends who graduated last May from college. Most of them took the summer off, travelling cross country or relaxing at home, and have ventured here from the East Coast. For them, the task of searching for a job is far more daunting and real than it is for me right now. They just moved across the country to follow a dream of a place they love, and now have to find work there too.
I contemplate these decisions all the time: Do I go to a place I love and hope the job opportunities follow? Do I land myself in a safe career path and gain experience? Or do I try as hard as I can for a position I love (likely not making a lot of money) anywhere it takes me, just because I think it could be what I want to do right now?j
It doesn’t matter what part of the country you’re in (whether warm San Diego or frigid Boston) but following your dreams can be a tough step, and that’s even if you know what they are! I have friends that have low salaries because of their desire to work in a particular industry, and even those that moved home to save money until they could figure out what they wanted to do. I have friends that moved to the location they wanted to be in- and found that then, and only then would people take them seriously for jobs in their location.
I certainly believe that for each of these friends of mine, their choices made complete sense for them. They knew which factor was the most important, and they made a choice based on that decision. But what’s the best choice for me?
Luckily, I have over six months until I graduate college, and already three first-round interviews planned for. I have the time to continue to think about what I want and I don’t have to make a decision now. I truly believe that the decision will just feel right- much like my decision of where I’d go to college, and I’ll know what best fits me. If I have great conversation with one of my interviewers, maybe I’ll take the cozy career route in a location that’s less desired. If my friends all move to Denver, maybe I’ll head to the mountains for some fresh air. Or, maybe that fabulous social media job for the Wedding Boutique will miraculously appreciate my enthusiasm and I’ll be on the road to loving what I do.
And, if for some reason I make a mistake and aren’t happy with my decision, I can make a different decision next time. I’m still young! I have plenty of time to make mistakes, change my mind, and live my dreams… once I figure out what they are.