Table of Contents
Introduction
Choosing passion over profession. Before we get into this, I would like to thank you for not having said this to me directly. What does choosing passion over profession mean?
My parents (mother mostly) did try to encourage me to study law at university. I decided to study what I was passionate about – Politics, and I even went further to add International Politics. This was at King’s College London. I mean, I just wasn’t interested in getting into Law or medicine as a profession (mainly because I suck at Science). I always thought I could still study Law in the future and get the good job mummy wanted. If I really, really wanted to, and even now I know I really do not want to.
What does choosing passion over profession mean?
And here’s the thing: that decision, which felt uncertain and maybe a little rebellious at the time, opened every single door that matters to me now. My degree led me into a career in international policy, which led me to postings abroad, which led me to travel the world, which ultimately led me to build something entirely my own through this blog. None of that happens if I sat in a lecture hall learning contract law because it was the “sensible” option.
Before we get into this, I would like to thank you for not having said this to me directly.
There is a version of me that did what was expected. She is probably fine. But I genuinely do not think she would be doing work she believes in, travelling the world solo, writing about it, and building a platform that speaks to other women who are also quietly refusing to shrink into the shape someone else drew for them. No, thank you, not now not ever.
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What’s my point here?
Well, my point is this. Traditionally and culturally, we are made to believe that if you are not a Lawyer, Accountant, Doctor or Engineer. You do not have a good enough job! This is absolute nonsense! There are so many other jobs in the world that are just are highly or even more important/valuable/ profitable. For example (IT, Entertainment, etc, for example) but which some people mentally believe are not prestigious enough because they don’t fall into one of the four above.
Let me be real with you for a second. The people pushing that narrative? They are often not unhappy people trying to ruin your life. They genuinely believe it. They grew up in a world where those four professions were the most reliable paths to security and respect. I understand that, like I actually get it. I have grace for it. But I also know that the world has shifted, and clinging to a 1985 blueprint for success in 2017 is doing a lot of people a lot of young women, a quiet kind of harm. In the same breath it’s also making a lot of very insecure men intimidated by women.
You are allowed to want something different. You as a women are allowed to be successful, and if people are intimidated by it then that is up to them. Because we are allowed to build something that does not have a name yet. You are allowed to look at someone else’s definition of success and say that is not mine. I know God has something for me.
I’m very blessed that God has blessed me with my own head on my own shoulders, taught me to follow my passion rather than the logic and dogma of those who are not living my life. Now don’t get me wrong. I think those professions are absolutely amazing! If you can get into them and have a deep devotion to them, go right ahead! What I’m trying to say is: never ever allow anyone to tell you that your own choices are wrong for you. Especially if you know that what you have chosen is exactly what you want.
The path that is right for you will rarely be the one that gets the most applause in the room. It will be the one that, when you are lying awake at 2am, you feel something like peace about. To live life on your own terms matters. That is not a follow your dreams speech its a love yourself enough to life fo you because every single time choosing passion over profession is not nothing. It’s huge. You must always ask yourself, should i follow my dreams or be realistic! And following your dreams is realistic.
Live Life On Your Own Terms
My opinion is: always follow your dreams and do exactly what you want. Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle. Every single time. If you don’t, you may in fact end up living someone else’s life rather than your own, and you may never, ever attain your full potential, find fulfilment, or happiness.
I spent years watching people make choices that looked impressive from the outside but left them quietly hollow on the inside. They also made me question if I wanted them for myself, and the fact of the matter is, I don’t. Choosing passion over profession is not reckless. It is not naive. It is, actually, one of the most courageous and self-aware things you can do for yourself because it requires you to know yourself well enough to trust yourself. Not everyone gets there.
So if you are standing at that crossroads right now, the one where one road has everyone’s approval and the other road has your name written on it, I hope you choose the road with your name on it. Every single time.
What does choosing passion over profession mean to you?
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