by Henry Pan

Opinion@statenews.com

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I remember being asked that question as early as elementary school, and I’m sure many can relate.

Back then, the answer to this was so easy. Some of my favorites were “president,” “wizard” and “Pokémon trainer.”

But as I grew up and gained more realistic expectations, what once was a simple question slowly transformed into a very scary life decision.

After all, the very thought of working a job for the rest of my life was incredibly daunting. I wanted to try so many different things, but I had to make one choice in the end. Having to make that decision so soon seemed ridiculous. I didn’t know what work was like in different fields, or if I’d be able to enjoy that work enough to continue it for the rest of my life.

Many students face these questions, and the classroom oftentimes doesn’t give an answer. For me, a lot of answers came from my experiences outside of the classroom.

I started joining student organizations. As I became more involved with them, I started to grow a better sense of potential future roles. In the professional organizations I was in, I gained insight on what opportunities were out there, and frequently I got the scoop on what it was like working in different industries.

The organizations didn’t even have to be in the professional realm to help my search. I got to explore a variety of social environments and got to connect with a lot of great individuals with unique experiences.

Not only was this fun, but it also gave me a better sense of what kind of community I wanted to be surrounded in.

However, the most helpful experiences that have contributed to my search are from my work-related experiences. My research in a lab has allowed me to become hands-on with my major and helped develop my skills outside regular coursework. It’s also been an integral part of my decision on whether or not I want to pursue a graduate degree.

Even the work that wasn’t related to my major was a great influence on me. It was from working as an intercultural aide that I found the community and team I was interacting with was just as important to me as the kind of work I was actually doing. None of these realizations would have ever occurred if I hadn’t reached out above and beyond my semester schedule.

Although we can’t “catch ‘em all” when it comes to choosing a job, becoming more active on campus will greatly help you decide what you want the most.

You get a better sense of what other opportunities are out there and gain a better understanding of what you find is most important.

Even then, your job decision is not final when you graduate from college. Just as we continue grow and change throughout adulthood, our occupation also can grow and change along with us.