It happens every year. A freshman comes on campus thinking they already know what they’ll be doing for the rest of their life. I was that person. But like many of my peers, I too succumbed to a change in direction. And you know what? That’s absolutely OK.
When I came to UNL, I knew I had a passion for sports. I wanted to turn that passion into a career. The thought of traveling the world and talking about sports seemed like a dream come true. However, as we’ve all discovered by now, college is time to find out who we are and who we want to be. Some people might have that figured out after their first couple years in college. For me, it took until my first semester of junior year to forge a new path. Again, that is absolutely OK.
I made the switch from broadcasting to advertising because I realized my ultimate passion is to make an impact in the world. Making the switch allows me to better cultivate that passion and hopefully turn it into a reality. I know it sounds cliché, but seeing good campaigns out there grabbing at the heartstrings of millions made me see how much of a difference words and imagery can make.
Obviously throughout this whole process, our first inclination is to consult our peers, mentors, family and friends. You want affirmation that you’re making the right decision. However, a huge part of growing up is being able to make your own decisions and embracing whatever comes with them. Believe me, I’m the first person to go seek advice from someone whenever I need to make an important decision. But at the end of the day, whatever you decide to do, whatever path you decide to follow, is up to you.
Failure is always a possibility. It’s bound to happen with every decision you make. But when you embrace your failures, learn from your mistakes and keep developing your craft, you will be successful. No one can take those experiences away from you because YOU made the decisions to get to this point.
All of your experiences, good and bad, will shape you into the person you want to be. So embrace each decision and dare to take a leap of faith. As Mr. Feeny once said, “Dream. Try. Do good.” Because in the end, everything will be OK.
-Steven Mah
