Life Is Adventure

I have worked in a Career Services office as a Career Counselor at a major university. It is really common for students to come in to ask for help with resume writing, interview practice and assistance with job search. It is pretty much what you would expect to see. What is just as common, however, are students who come in with very great anxiety and even panic because they are not sure of the major or career they want to pursue. That anxiety and panic is often fueled by the belief that they only get one shot at getting this decision right- that they will never have the opportunity to change that decision even if they find they hate the career they end up in. Many students are under a lot of pressure from parents, friends and even their colleges to make that choice- immediately. The pressure just builds and builds.

Here is the truth though, and I wish I could tell every student who is so anxious and panicked about this momentous choice – the chances are that you will change your career several times during your lifetime. There are lots of reasons why this is likely to happen to you. Even if you start out loving a career, the ways in which you work and the changes in the field may cause you to lose interest or want something different. You may say “This isn’t what I used to love doing anymore.” You may find out about new careers that you never knew existed and decide to pursue that new opportunity. You may find unexpected ways to turn a passion or lifelong interest into a career that you didn’t imagine you could have. Your life circumstances may push you into opportunities that turn out to be surprisingly satisfying. An opportunity to do something very different than you ever considered may turn out to be the proverbial “golden opportunity”. Other people may see abilities and potential in you that you were unaware of and urge you to move in a certain direction that turns out to be great. There is a theory in Career Development called “Happenstance” and it basically states that many people end up in careers because of these kinds of life twists and turns- life adventures. This theory even suggests that there are real benefits to being undecided or unsure and remaining open to opportunities that come along.

So I always tell students to do their work and research regarding possible careers and majors. It is important to select a direction that seems to fit with your abilities and interests. But don’t panic. This is not a life sentence and your career path is likely to take a few turns and unexpected directions over the coming years. This is just the first step. Think, examine career options, assess your abilities and interests and make this an informed choice – but know that your future career, like all of life, is an adventure. Keep an open mind and a flexible vision of what you can ultimately do and be open to the future possibilities.

PS- If you want to know a bit more about Krumboltz’ Happenstance theory of Career Development, here is a link you can check: https://www.careers.govt.nz/resources/career-practice/career-theory-models/krumboltzs-theory/