Are you being pressured to go to college? Are you naturally talented in some area? Are you exceptionally talented in that area, or do you have a great passions for it? Do you want to be “just like Dad”? Or, do you want to be “just like Mom”? Has another relative inspired you to pursue a particular career? Has another relative made you feel obligated to attend college, possibly to maintain a family tradition or expectation?
Family Pressures
Quite naturally parents and other relatives want the very best for you. And if they have a college education and have realized the significant advantages of obtaining an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees, then they may expect you to do so as well. And the same could be said for a close uncle, aunt, cousin or grandparent. Additionally, you may and should have great respect for that special relative, or relatives, and do not want to violate that respect.
Then there are college students who have always wanted to follow in the steps of a parent or other relative. A good friend of mine once said, “Dad is a pilot; he taught me to fly; and I have always wanted to fly.” That was 25 years ago and today he is a senior captain for United Airlines. However, he had two very significant advantages: his passion for flying and his relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Regardless of your passion, nothing should be able to stop you from attaining your aspirations with both your passion and the Lord working together!
Taking Advantage of Natural Talents, Abilities or Passions
If you have natural talents, abilities or passions for a particular field of work, seriously consider enrollment in a school specializing in that field. Recognize that there are others who have had similar, maybe even identical, passions; and you can learn much from them. And very often they have become teachers, or have significant experience in that field, and now have a passion to pass their knowledge on to others. A college or university can provide you a great boost toward your chosen career; but unless you are extremely talented (e.g. a child prodigy), lucky (a term I use reluctantly as a Christian) or both, you still will have to work very hard to attain your aspirations.
Its Your Life!
Whether you want to study how to become a gunsmith, chef, journalist, pilot or something else, think carefully about your chosen career field. But once you have consulted with relatives, friends, high school counselors and teachers, people in that career field and college faculty and students at your chosen institution, it time to make a definitive decision. Make it boldly and put all your effort into pursuing that degree and career. As I have told many college students pursuing a flying career, “If you want it badly enough, you will attain it. But Part 121 carriers (major carriers like United Airlines, Delta Airlines and American Airlines and the U.S. military), only take the ‘best of the best’.” Today there are many pilots flying for Part 121 carriers, and many international foreign carrier pilots, that were my students in one capacity or another; and some of them I actually taught how to fly! For this former college instructor, there is no more rewarding experience than meeting one of these consummate professionals, whom I had the privilege of training many years ago.
Thank you for reading!