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It has been said that to be truly happy a person should find a way to make a career of something they are passionate about. In fact, it has been said so many times that most people would probably agree whole-heartedly without giving it much thought.
When I started school a friend warned me not to let the pressure kill my desire to take photos. While that definitely has not happened, I did fail to anticipate the difference between having a hobby and studying that hobby for four years.
Unfortunately, the result was that I began to carry a camera only when in school mode or work mode. This summer, however, I was determined to break out of that habit and take photos that made me happy, photos that no one would ever have to see and definitely photos that no professor would get to critique.
This photo is a perfect example of something that made me happy while I was doing it. The excitement of these kids was quite contagious and made me realize how lucky I am to be paid for carrying a camera.
The SIU Web site lists 241 academic majors and specializations, which by my count means 241 opportunities for students to become overwhelmed and realize that there is pressure and stress involved in pursuing a passion. While earning a college degree will never be stress-free, it is important that students remember why they chose their majors and maintain that passion.
While that may seem easier said than done, summer is the perfect time for students to re-energize their desires to be the best at whatever it is they choose to be. And while no formula is one-size-fits-all, there are many ways one can re-light those fires and be ready to attack the fall semester full-tilt.
Do you have a creative major? Take the time to appreciate the masters who came before you and inspired you. Spend a day in an art gallery, read a classic novel or travel to a city with interesting architecture.
Maybe compassion is your passion. You could volunteer at a children’s hospital or a homeless shelter to remind yourself why you want to be the world’s best nurse or social worker.
Civil engineering major? Kill two birds with one stone and drive across the Martin Luther King Bridge to visit the Gateway Arch.
The point is that there are endless possibilities for any student to return to school in the fall refreshed and reminded that college is stressful but not permanent. You chose your major for a reason; now get out there and remember what that reason is.
