Wait…what?

I did everything they said, and yet I’m still not happy?

I graduated high school with mediocre grades. Then went straight into college to major in nursing. Without skipping a beat, I got into nursing school. Graduated. Became a registered nurse. And now, I work in what I thought was my destined profession.

Wrong.

But how could I be so wrong? How could I have gotten this far in what seems to everyone else a success but was actually an utter failure to my soul?

I feel like I just got robbed of any ambition I had for life. Sure, I now make $50,000 as a 25-year-old—but at what cost?

My parents never graduated high school. My entire life, they pushed for me to live out their dream of success. Or can I say this is pretty much most parents’ dreams of success? Less risk; more gain. Move out and become independent.

Isn’t that why the art major gets the weird looks from most parents and the medical degree gets the good ol’ double thumbs up? It’s crap!

Are you the author of your own life?

How are you supposed to know what you want at 18 years of age?

At 18, I was hanging out with my older college friends, trying to learn how not to throw up drinking coconut rum (yuck).

I had my head straight when it came to school, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life.

See, here’s the major problem with our school system. Grade school doesn’t teach you to harness any of your talents. Your worth is measured by how well you take tests, such as the SAT. A number. A damn statistic.

I know so many friends who based how well and far they’d get in life by this stupid number.

What did that number do for me?

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

I got into the school I wanted. The major I wanted. No waitlists. No downtime. But for what?

Maybe if I had some down time, I could’ve taken a class in something that actually interested me, like photography, media design, or journalism. And what if that could have been the pivotal moment I needed to turn on that little light bulb in my head and say, “Stop right there! You’re making a mistake.”

The real point I’m trying to get to is:

Follow your heart.

Harness your strength.

Challenge the naysayers.

And, most importantly, be your own author. With every decision you make, ask yourself, “Is this for me or is for them (them being anyone besides yourself)?”

I wanted to live a life that made my family happy and impressed the world.

Now I find myself scrambling for answers as to why I didn’t pursue a career with more of my interests and strengths in mind.

Starting from scratch is hard but not impossible.

I want you to know this story has a happy ending, but I’m right there with you figuring it out too.

If you’re wondering whether or not you should take the risk, I say “Take it.”

Take what you’re good at and what your interests surround and make that where you “live.” Because that is what you should deem to be your success. Your happiness.

Take that photography class.

Find out if you’re good at web design.

Learn how to manage a business.

You can do it all, but you can’t do it unless you make that move!

If you’re looking for a sign, this is it.

And, in the words of Shia LaBeouf,

Just do it.

~