Using Your Passion as a Competitive Advantage
By: Regina F.
One of the most challenging choices students confront is deciding what career to pursue during college. A study by Ohio State University reported that around 75% of college students change their major at least once before graduation. But the question is, why does this happen? When applying to college and deciding which career to choose, students hear many opinions from their parents, friends, and family; they search through the internet and social media and receive biased information from others. Thus, all of these factors pressure students in a way that they end up choosing a career they do not actually feel passionate about. In the end, only 27% work in their field of study.
My Experience
I grew up in Panama City, Panama, a beautiful city where people feel passionate about what they do. My family and friends are hard-working, and so am I. When I was little, I used to sell candies with my brothers in my neighborhood. When I was thirteen, I found out that I enjoyed baking, so a friend and I baked brownies, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and crepes, and we sold them in our neighborhood. Later, I created an Instagram account where I sold anything I enjoyed baking. Fortunately, I had plenty of orders.
However, when it was time for me to choose what to study for the next four or five years of my life, I had so much pressure from others and heard so many opinions that influenced my choice. “If you study this, you are going to be so successful”, “This carer is the future, you should study it”, “Mmm, I think you will end up without a job if you study that, it will be better to study something else”, these were some phrases I heard. Most people also heard similar words when choosing their college careers. I applied to college with a business major, which I love studying. Nonetheless, I went to Paris this summer and took a one-month course on pastries and bakery. During the course, I noticed that my passion is the kitchen. Every day I woke up excited to go and learn new stuff; I even felt butterflies in my stomach. It felt as if I was living a dream.
Since that day, I have been working on myself and doing anything I can to work toward my future goal: having a worldwide bakery and coffee shop. I followed a series of steps to get where I am now.
1.Try doing different activities.
Before, I was afraid of trying new things. But once, my beloved grandfather told me, “how do you know if you like something or not if you have never tried it?”. These words got stuck in my head, and I began trying new things.
Expanding your knowledge will help you find the work field where you fit perfectly. This step takes time, effort, and feeling comfortable being uncomfortable because you will be experiencing new things which will take you out of your comfort zone. It is a big step.
In my experience, I tried design courses, finance, and business internships, playing sports, cooking classes, and theater programs.
2. Make a list of what you like and choose one to focus on
After trying all these different activities, I found out what I enjoyed the most: business, cooking, and theater. However, the one that made me feel passionate was cooking. I never knew this was coming as I thought this was going to be a hobby my whole life.
During this step, you should follow your feelings, not the opinion of others. Choosing what you would like to focus on should be independent of others’ biased ideas of what they think will be better for you. YOU are the only one who truly knows what you enjoy doing and what you will enjoy doing for a big part of your life. My grandfather once told me, “If you enjoy what you do, you will never work,” which is completely accurate. When I cook, I feel as if I am having a blast.
3. Analyze your strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities
Thinking about your strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities is essential for your competitive advantage. Based on what you analyzed, you will find a more straightforward path to follow for the next years. Where to focus, where to be careful, and what to leave behind.
4. Find what’s next based on where you are now
Now the question is, where to start? First, visualize yourself where you are now, and try to find bridges to connect where you are now with where you want to go.
I am currently a sophomore majoring in business at Northeastern University. My dream is to have a worldwide bakery and coffee shop brand. So, I began looking for concentrations that would enrich my knowledge of managing a business. Also, I searched for baking courses in Boston, and I hope to get a co-op on something related to the food industry.
I encourage all undergraduate students who feel that they are not doing what they actually feel passionate about in their careers to follow these steps and use their knowledge of what they are passionate about as a competitive advantage. No one knows better what you enjoy the most rather than yourself.
I wish you the best!
About the Author
Regina F. is a current undergraduate student at Northeastern University, majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. She is from Panama City, Panama. Regina looks forward to exploring new cultures and learning from new experiences.
