“One of humanity’s biggest fears… A J*B.” This is a statement from the Youtube influencer “Degenerocity” when discussing his first job experience.
Obviously, he is exaggerating, but it’s shockingly relatable. It’s not easy to just decide what you’re going to do with the rest of your time on Earth. Although it’s certainly not a bad idea to have a checklist with necessities such as passion, making sure it’s sustainable to support yourself, and even supporting a family long term is also something to consider. Lots of people are pressured into choosing their job at an early age only for them to later regret it but I’m here to tell you to not stress yourself because there is always time to find a profession that you truly find enjoyment from..
We shouldn’t have to worry about choosing the “perfect job”. You may choose a career that changes later in ways you cannot possibly predict. Even many of our staff members at Helix know this. Some of them faced struggles and even changed careers later in life to become teachers or counselors.
Changing career paths is viable!
To get a better view on our workforce, I chose to interview teachers. When I asked student counselor Ana Delgado about her experience picking a profession she mentioned originally going through school to become a teacher. Her ambition changed when she was 22 and took a gap year to find a career that she had real enthusiasm for. During this gap year her interest shifted from doctor to student counseling, drawing her to want to become a psychiatrist.
Coach Cavazos has always wanted to coach basketball at a high level. Becoming a high school basketball coach was a dream come true for him. If he had the option to have any job he would still want to be a basketball coach but at a prestigious school such as Duke. Even at 23 years old when he realized being a basketball coach wouldn’t be sustainable because you only get paid during the season, he found a way to continue his passion through becoming a Helix First teacher. This allowed him to support his family whilst still being able to pursue his passion of being a basketball coach.
Another beloved coach at Helix, Coach Honda, originally was told to become a doctor by his parents. After some thought he decided he didn’t want to be a doctor and wanted to live out his years in the military. After more consideration, he was able to change career paths one last time and ultimately land where he is today, becoming the big, muscular, man we all know him as today.
Lastly, Freshman English Teacher, Mrs. Thedell loves marine life, so naturally she gravitated to becoming a marine biologist. While striving to become a marine biologist, she would teach surfing. This opened a world of new possibilities when she realized that teaching just felt right for her. After going through the teaching program at SDSU, she was able to successfully change her professional aspirations from a marine biologist into a beloved teacher at Helix!
Wrapping up the interviews, I learned that all of these teachers and counselors would much prefer having a job they have passion for rather than a job that pays high with Ana Delgado the student counselor even stating “Social justice for students is more important than money to me”. Which can make you wonder, what job is right for me?
What should I look for in a job?
A couple of things to consider when looking for a job should be how long you plan to be in the field of work, as well as if it has enough income to support you. The last thing anyone wants is a job they enjoy, but having to sacrifice their living conditions. This is why, arguably, the most important part of choosing a long term job is your enjoyment and passion for it. Remember, all of the teachers I interviewed said they would rather have jobs that they have passion for rather than jobs that pay high.
Enjoyment and meaning can carry you further into your professional career than money can. While it’s not a bad idea to start off by making money so you have a good foundation, passion offers long term satisfaction in your accomplishments. A large issue plaguing the minds of those who chose jobs without enthusiasm is questioning if they have contributed to the world. The job you have for the rest of your life doesn’t have to be as ground breaking as a rocket scientist – something small such as a dog walker can be impactful and make someone grateful for you. Not enjoying your job can lead to burnout. Burnout causes people to lose satisfaction for their job and can cause strong feelings of regret/depression.
When you believe your job isn’t appreciated, it can be hard to find motivation to keep going. Many people recognise this at around 40 years old, going through what’s known as a “mid life crisis.” This point in life is when most people overthink and worry about if they want to continue with their lifestyle until retiring. For some, this can be draining, wondering if the years that they have invested into the career path were all for nothing. People that are in this situation feel the need to stick with the job to validate the time already spent, not knowing that this “time spent in denial” is time that could have been used switching to a career that could have more satisfaction and meaning.
Your greatest fear shouldn’t be a job, in fact, consider looking forward to making change in the world no matter how small the occupation. Finding a job that balances your interests and aspirations whilst being monetary can be hard but don’t stress about it because as these teachers that love their jobs have learned. It is never too late to indulge your passion!
Harvard business review Keiran Setiya Facing Your Mid-Career Crisis
Influencer/Youtuber “Degenerocity”
