Finding Your Passion in College

by: Rachid Ouedraogo

How many times have you heard people say, “Just follow your passion”?  As you start considering your future education, you might have a hard time deciding what you are interested in pursuing. That is okay! Many students do not know what degree they want to study or what career they may want after college. Many new college students (freshman) are ‘undeclared’ majors, meaning they have not decided on a major yet and are exploring different topics to see what they enjoy.

Why is passion important? Passion motivates, guides, or influences our life choices. When we are passionate about our work or studies, we will do whatever it takes to be successful. It gives us a reason to keep learning. Finding our passion encourages us to accomplish our goals and gives us purpose.

So how do you find your passion?

1. Be positive and open to opportunities. If you think you will never find your passion, you will close many doors that may help you find it. It is best to adopt a perspective that you will find your passion and do something you love. Every challenge brings new opportunities.
2. Explore! Think about expanding your network, joining new clubs or professional groups, or taking classes you never considered before. Reach out to professionals in career fields that interest you—interview them to learn more about their jobs! Doing these things will help you also figure out what you are not interested in, which will help you focus on subjects that you do
3. Think about your current interests. Which of your interests gets you the most excited? Is there an issue or problem that motivates you? Start making a list of subjects, issues, or interests that “light your fire.” Do not limit yourself to things that only bring you joy, either. Anger or frustration can be motivating too. For example, are there social or political issues that frustrate you enough to motivate you?
4. Take your time and use campus resources. Don’t feel pressured to choose your major or career right away. At St. Cloud State, you have time to declare your official major. It is also okay to change majors if you need to. SCSU students also receive guidance from our advising department. Advisors will help you understand the required curriculum, clarify your educational goals, introduce you to major & minor options, and list to your concerns! The SCSU Career Center is also available to help you explore majors and provide career coaching.
5. Consider what success looks like to you. Many people define or associate success with large sums of wealth, high level of fame, college degree, or high paid job. Everyone has his or her own definition of success. Personally, I define successful people as people that achieve what they most desire. For me, a successful person is proud of the work he or she does every day, and is happy to do it.

After you have found the degree or job you are passionate about, the next step is to identify your end goal. Do you have a dream job location? Ideal company? What do you want your daily responsibilities to be? Then, set realistic, smaller goals that will help you progress towards your end goal. Are there specific skills you need to learn? Will certain college courses help? What type of extracurricular experience will help? When setting your goals, it is key to not to compare your goals to others.  Start planning the necessary actions to achieve your goals; this will give you direction. Do not be afraid of failure. Remember to stay positive and welcome opportunities, including challenges!