Yes, read the title again, again and again, until is clicks. Understand your directional future, plan ahead but most of all plan a life which is full of excitement and a life which you'll enjoy living.
As the Chief Executive of the World Youth Organization, I must say, it has been far from easy getting here. My parents have always been top supporters for my educational progression, rather than my true passion, which of course is the World Youth Organization. There has been many arguments when it comes down to the contrasting topics. Time after time I have to protect the organisation and my beliefs and hopes it will one day become.
Proving one wrong, especially your parents, is a tough ride, but when you are passionate about something, you time after time put up a fight. You stand for what you believe in, which I believe is one of the most important aspects of life. Any parent or carer would say the required line or two, "You must go to university" , "You will not get anywhere without that degree" or, my favorite "Kieran, you need a profession otherwise you won't get anywhere". All of those sentences make the prefect sense, when you're ambitious about becoming a nurse, doctor, teacher or scientist, or a career path which requires that important degree. But something I believe many parents see is that when one has the degree, you are automatically set on the right path of life.
When the bitter truth is, it doesn't always go swimmingly well.
However, if you are passionate about the subject you study, and you are so willing to make it work, I know you will do everything to make just that a reality. So me going to university, learning nursing and leaving with a degree, I doubt will get much further than the gates of the university campus purely because my heart isn't set for that path in life. Of course, it would be a safer route for me, compared to the one I am taking at the moment, guarantees a higher chance of me getting a full time job, but with something I would not have full passion over. Would I lead a happy life? Possibly. Would I be true to myself? No.
One can take many paths in life, you just need to find the best one for you. I strongly agree with safety netting, something to fall back on just in case plan A doesn't go to well, stay in college, go to University if it helps reassure you that you are going to be okay, but stick with your passion as plan A, always.
"Follow your passion be prepared to work hard, sacrifice and above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams."
The morel of this article is this. Please listen to your heart, if you want to become an astronaut, footballer or the next Rihanna, go for it, if it helps, I am not stopping you, you have my support.
If you need advice on anything from this article, drop me a message to kieran.goodwin@worldyo.org