MICHAEL (3rd year)

“I for instance have never been the best at anything. I’ve always been good, or good enough, at any activity I’ve done, but I’ve never been the best. And at some point, you reach a point at which you’re just like: “When is that thing going to come my way, that just requires all of my attention?” It’s challenging to remain ambitious about something you cannot tangibly see, and it's easy to get disheartened when you don’t have one particular passion. That’s why I think that it’s important to know that there doesn’t need to be this one passion, as long as you put your all into the matter right in front of you. What I want to say is that it’s ok to not have one passion in life. Whatever you do, just give your all into something you enjoy.

There is this implicit pressure in society to be someone who only has one passion that they are brilliant at, leading them to one distinct career path, like Mark Zuckerberg for instance. But the truth is some might find that one passion, but many will not. Moreover, there is something elitist about having to seek fulfilment solely in a job. Many people work a 9-to-5 job to pay their bills, and find out over time that the more time they dedicate to this particular job, the more they start to enjoy it.

I suppose that it is all about balance and setting realistic expectations for yourself, while remaining enthusiastic about what you do, whatever that might be. And who knows, maybe I end up finding my passion at 60 years old. So it’s all about not getting disheartened in the process and putting your mind and energy into what is in front of you at the moment.“ (Michael, 3rd year, Argentina)