“Do what you love” was the worst thing that was said to me, ever. This economy was design to crush your dreams.
I’ve always been a great student and always had the best grades. I once thought I could do anything in life, because people kept telling me to “follow my dreams” and “do what I love” and “you’ll succeed”.
I could have become a lawyer, a high level manager or maybe even someone in the medical field, but I never wanted any of that.
I never felt like I’d be happy in those fields and I still believe that. I don’t want to do something I dislike. I never thought the money would be enough to make me happy.
Instead, I went to the path of trying to become a designer, something that I liked to do ever since I was a kid and I still love.
It couldn’t have been a worst decision. It doesnt matter how hard I try, how much I work, if I don’t get extremely luck, I’ll never be able to get above the subsistence line.
Many of my friends are now in fields that have absolutely nothing to do with them or their personalities (most of them I even consider to be terrible professionals or got nepotism jobs), but at least they’re not struggling like I am.
PS: Unless you work in a high-end agency, design is not a high paying field. In fact, many designers that I know have to settle for minimum wage and countless additional hours of freelance work to keep things going.
At 30, I feel like I need to restart my whole life to be able to get anywhere right now and I’m tired as hell. I hate everything.
Netizens’ comments
- Counterpoint: I do not do what I love, and the economy is still crushing me.
- Opposite problem here. I was forced to try and pursue thing I absolutely didn’t want to do and because of that failed hard.
Rather than pursue something I enjoy that holds my focus and I’m good at, I studied business.
And am now working a job that makes me want to die while also earning less than I would have if I had of gone after what I wanted. - I think the sweet spot is finding something you like to do, but isn’t your passion. People with a calling can be more easily exploited. People who like what they do but it isn’t their passion as able to walk away from it when needed.