All I Want To Do

The best decision I ever made (in hindsight of course) was to not go directly into grad school after JMU. It was a really tough decision at the time; most of the other psych majors were busy with admissions during our senior year, and it would stress me out just listening to their issues. So when it got to be too overwhelming to go to undergrad full time and apply for the next step, I stepped back and said, "I'll decide after graduation." If I hadn't done that, I would be in grad school for psychology and very unhappy. Instead I'm in Europe, learning different farming techniques and seeing so many places I always sort of thought I would eventually get to, but probably wouldn't if I had followed the plan. These two years in between degrees have been amazing so far, and I've gotten to figure things out in my own way. 

In the US, the time from school age to early twenties is pressured to be very structured. There's "the plan." Go to college, get a job/go to grad school, find a career, start a family, live in the suburbs. Northern virginia can be pretty relentless in that aspect. I'm sure wherever you're reading this, you understand that pressure or know your children do. In the past few years my career goals have changed from psychologist, government researcher, engineer, project manager, farmer, immigration counselor, artist, full time rowing coach, and about twenty other things in between. But it's taken me this full year to realize I can do pretty much whatever the hell I want to, and however I can. There actually is no "plan", and no one to make sure you follow it. Until JMU graduation there's always been some kind of safety net; someone somewhere is going to make sure I get across that stage. But now, it's all up to me (and my amazing parents that have let me live with them postgrad, but that's beside the point). If I fail, it's all on me. But that makes it even better when I succeed!

So the point of this rambling post is that I have had such an amazing time here in Europe, and it's helped me grow up more than four years of college ever did. Minus all the rowing club issues of course; because if there's anything that makes you grow up fast, it's having the whole team relying on you to get a boathouse built. 

Another thing I've learned is that no one uses their degree for their career unless you're medicine or law. There are infinite possibilities of what you can do with your life, and only so many degree options available. You could make a ton of money or just scrape by. Leave an impact with the world or with your incredible family. Love your job or love your hobbies. The college-career-family "plan" is not the only one. It's the right one for a lot of people, but don't waste your time trying to fit in if it's not the right one for you.

That's my advice to everyone following. Because that's what this year has been about for me; letting go of the stress and guilt of not following "the plan". Admitting to myself that plans change and it's not a bad thing. This next year will be about finding out what I absolutely love. I've made a lot of progress so far with that (check out my next post) and the best part is that I can find even more. 

For now, I'm hanging out in Scotland on the most remote island you can be on, helping restore woodlands that were home to primitive people in the Bronze Age. And there's a castle. More on that later.

So go out and eat the world!