My Advice to College Students: Pursue Passion

College. The best of times, the worst of times. The best because of the friends I made (including my future wife), the fun I had, the independence it afforded me and the credential it gave me to pursue the career of my choice. The worst because I was academically immature, spiritually unable to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity, too focused on getting my yah yahs out and insecure both as a person and as a contributing member of society. And the worst has nothing to do with grades (mine were quite good) and everything to do with why I think someone should be in college: to learn, to explore, to develop as a person and as an independent thinker. While on paper and in cocktail conversation banter my college career was extremely successful - great friends, great grades, and the great job that resulted - I view it not quite as a failure, but as a terrible waste of a golden opportunity. And I am here to tell you not to do what I did, to dream about being out, to focus on getting grades and not on learning and broadening one’s horizons, to only hang with friends and to not take chances by pursuing an unfamiliar activity or engaging with a different group of people. I copped out.  But you’re too smart to do that, right?

Why was I academically immature? Who knows. My own development? My psychological state due to my upbringing? My need to individuate and to simply say “f*ck you” to my parents? Probably all of the above. But one thing is for sure; I never asked myself “What do I feel passionately about? What classes or activities would spark my interest simply because they are cool and challenge my thinking?” What a dumb ass I was. I had a bunch of core requirements (several of which I exempted out of because of APs) that I dutifully completed (though not in person most of the time, to be honest), but I didn’t want to be there. And once these were done and I had only my ideas, dreams and interests to drive my course selection, I pretty much did the blandest stuff possible. Mega economics. Mega business and finance. Eat a book, take a test. I was always good at that.  Big papers, research projects, things that actually required thought and planning? I avoided those like the plague. There were a few exceptions to the rule; I did take some Asian philosophy, several upper-level courses in psychology and took a doctoral course in organizational systems theory, but out of all the course options I had this was a pretty poor showing. Anyway, my punch line: start with passion and go from there. You know why? Because regardless of what you major in, if you are smart, driven, passionate and achieve at a high level, doors will be open. Successful professionals can smell passion (and the lack of it) a mile away - it is the ticket to play as far as I am concerned for landing the job of your dreams. Start with passion, add some achievement of merit and it is really hard to screw up.

Why was I so insular and stayed close to my group of friends, not expanding beyond the core to pursue other interests and to meet new people? That is easy - I was one of those kids who hated high school and couldn’t wait to flee. When I made it to college and found a large group of people with whom I shared a lot of common interests, the kind of friends with whom you could go into an apartment with a great record collection at 9pm with some libations, and emerge 10 hours later having discussed philosophy, music, current events, hopes and dreams and be closer as a result. It was something I lacked in high school and desperately wanted in college and when I found it, I pretty much didn’t give a sh*t about anything else. And as good as my friends were (and most of whom I am still close to today), I wish I had had the security and the maturity to diversify my experiences and to join some clubs, get involved in political causes, do something that forced me to leave my comfort zone and to get some exposure to the kind of stuff that matters in the real world: dealing with new people; learning new things; organizing in a group context; leading an initiative. All of these things and important in the real world, and in life in general. It would have been great to have done it. But I didn’t. But you, my college-age readers, have to do it. You will be the beneficiaries of my screw ups. Please take my advice to heart.

I have had the opportunity to meet so many extraordinary young people in my professional life, many of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with. And let me tell you, these folks are incredibly thoughtful, well-rounded, mature and balanced. Much, much more evolved as people than I was at a like age. To be fair, I was very “business mature.” I knew my stuff and how it applied in the business world, the real business world. This set me apart from many who were book smart and had high grades but didn’t know how to apply the knowledge. But as a person, as a leader, this is stuff I had to pick up during my early work years and during my time in graduate school. You, my young, bright, passionate friends out there, harness that intensity, passion and focus and squeeze the juice out of your college experience. It happens only once in a lifetime. And it can set you up for the rest of your life.

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COMMENT:

AUTHOR: Minimum Wage

EMAIL: citizen2ndclass@wmconnect.com

URL: 

DATE: 01/13/2008 07:11:20 PM

I guess I blew my college years, couldn’t afford law school, and ended up with a minimum wage job.  Now I’m 50.  What can I do now?

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COMMENT:

AUTHOR: Chris

EMAIL: headpig@lipstickthispig.com

URL: http://www.lipstickthispig.com

DATE: 01/15/2008 07:06:49 PM

Helo Minimum Wage. Roger gives great advice here. What do you mean you blew your college years? Someone was looking out after you by not letting you attend law school. The world does not need anymore attorneys…..:)  

Remember a man does not start doing truly great things until his 40’s and 50’s. Napoleon Hill Think and Grow Rich would be a great book to start with for you. 

What is your passion? If you didn’t finish college you have friends. http://www.cnbc.com/id/20903145/?photo=1

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