I get extremely excited about new endeavors. Often in pursuit of something new to do or learn, I pour myself into finding out everything there is to know about it. Whether it be a new techy gadget, a country I'd like to visit, a half-marathon or a career path, to me, the world is full of possibility . Sometimes though, the excitement can be short-lived. Sometimes I realize that after investing so much time and energy into it, I find out it wasn't so great after all and I lose interest and off I am again in the pursuit of something else. I don't necessarily believe there's anything wrong with this, because I am learning what I like and don't like and in the end it makes me a well rounded person. I have noticed something though. Let me begin with a story of a journey.
I have never been the type who has known since childhood exactly what I wanted to do. This is not to say I didn't have aspirations, in fact I remember clearly wanting to be an actress, marine biologist, doctor, and a horse trainer at different points in my youth. I was certainly (and still am) a very creative girl. In high school I dreamed of being a news anchor, so naturally when I started University I declared Broadcast Journalism as a major. That didn't last long. I found out that I hated writing articles, the nitpickyness, and deadlines.
I then discovered my love for foreign language and culture and changed my major to Intercultural Communication with a minor in Spanish. I had a plan, I was going to study abroad in Spain and relearn my mother tongue! I found all the information, met with the chair of the Modern Languages dept. throughout the year, and developed a sudden interest in Politics which behooved me to add a minor in Political Science. My goal was to become an English/Spanish interpreter.
I didn't go to Spain. I went to Bolivia instead.
While in Bolivia, I suddenly took an interest in teaching so I took a few Education classes. I also tagged along with my Nursing friends while they did their clinicals.
Then I went to Brazil to stay with some family for two months, job shadowed my Anesthesiologist uncle, observed a couple surgeries, was enthralled, and came home smelling like the hospital. I also was attracted to the idea of Psychiatry after I talked with the rest of my Doctor family.
Then, with my goal of becoming an interpreter still in mind, I visited the Adventist university in Sao Paulo and found out everything I could (alternating between broken Portuguese, Spanish, and English) about their Translating/Interpreting program. I had a plan! Since I'd already spent a semester in Bolivia and learned Spanish, I could transfer to the school in Sao Paulo, learn Portuguese, and finish my degree there. I'd eventually move back to the states to seek employment (or just stay in Brasil, it's whatever). Only thing was, if I had wanted to go back to the states after obtaining a degree in a foreign country it would be nearly impossible to seek employment. So I went back to Bolivia to finish another semester. I think I had already bought a plane ticket anyway. (As I write this, I still find this plan, though not very well developed, extremely appealing.)
As you can see, I have a lot of interests.
I still didn't know what I wanted to do when I came back to the States. I found out that Southern no longer carried my major of Intercultural Comm., but I wasn't really disappointed because I was no longer passionate about it. But then I thought about being a Spanish professor (found out quickly when I took Edu. classes in Bolivia that I didn't want to teach small children....)
So with a month 'till school starting, I had to decide on something. And quick. I love Southern, but I didn't want to spend all that money without knowing exactly what I wanted to do and the thought of going to a community college until then depressed me.
So one day, I went over to my friend Katie's house to swim in her pool. I ended up having a conversation with her mom about none other but the inevitable question of what I was to do with my life. Ugh. Long story short, I told her about my interest in being a Spanish professor. She suggested Nursing. hmmm...Well I have always been interested in Healthcare...hmmm....Nursing. What would that entail?
Social skills. Check. Compassion. Check. Dedication. Only if it's something I can commit to.
But what about being a Spanish professor?
EUREKA!
I'll do both.
I went home and found a great partnership program at a community college where I could complete my AS in Pre-Nursing, and an exceptional University where I would complete Nursing school.
I finally found what I was looking for. How do I know? I'm still as excited, and motivated about Nursing as I was when I started. My focus hasn't left me and as you have just read, this is a trait I am notorious for. I am sticking this one out. It's Finals week, and with 17 credits almost behind me, I have not burned out. I have this newfound energy that keeps me going because I have a realistic plan, and small goals to work towards. I am hoping to graduate from comm. college next summer and if all goes well, start Nursing school in the Fall. I will obtain a BS in Nursing and work while I pursue a Ph.D. so that I can eventually become a college professor. It's the best of both worlds for me!
Part of figuring it out was growing up and part of it was trying everything before settling. I was talking this over with my career counselor I had at Southern (who also endured many frantic e-mails from me presenting every possibility I entertained while I was in South America). He told me that through all the searching, something eventually, inevitably sticks with us and we tend to come back around after walking away-sometimes repeatedly.
He's right.
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