Connections & Perspectives

What is the legacy I want to leave behind when I take my final breath of this world? How is the work that I’ve put in, past and present, going to guide me through life? What is even the point of all this?
It is impossible to know for sure where my path will lead, as my journey has taken many twists and unforeseen turns. There have been many times, probably a few more than I’d like to admit, that I lost my way, and was not sure which way to turn next. For some, myself included, it can be difficult to make a clear connection between a successful career and doing something you love. People who have found that medium, balancing happiness all while making a living, are often referred to as risk takers, or even lucky. In a way, I deduce that that is partially true, but in my opinion there is so much more to it. I think it takes making mistakes, losing your way, being frequently doubted, and getting beat down to get back up again- a phoenix rising from the ashes of destruction, if you will. It takes courage to step outside the norm, to blaze a trail not yet traveled. I have waged a war with myself questioning if I’m doing the right thing, or choosing the right career. Some probably would group me in with the risk takers that make their own path. Some may even doubt me, but doubt is the death of all dreams, and I refuse to doubt myself. Consistency is key, and I am a firm believer that if you stick with something, even when things get hard, you will be successful.
Throughout my college career, there have been many times I questioned the reasoning behind some of my required classes. After all, what do Biology and Communication Skills in Writing have to do with being a History major? While my other classes such as Art History and Universal Justice have clear connections to History, how does one make a connection with Core Areas A and D? Its simple really, because almost everything connects to history. Without written and recorded History, we would most likely still be in the Dark Ages, because there would be only a verbal transfer of ideas, which is not reliable or consistent. In History, you learn about the beginnings or these fields of study. For example, without the Scientific Revolution, most likely we would not have a good understanding about the living world around us that is taught through Biology. Without the invention of the printing press during the Renaissance, there would have never been a great spread of ideas. Writers had the ability to mass produce a pamphlet or a book, which could now reach the common people.
I believe that no matter what career path you choose, writing is fundamentally important. After all, the average person writes something every day whether it be an email, a text message, or even a paper. Expanding your knowledge in all areas is crucial to success. While one may not want to be a jack of all trades, allowing yourself to learn something that maybe wasn’t your first choice may spark an interest in a field you never considered before. That is how I ended up a History major and not in the Nursing Program. All in all, I am thankful for my college career thus far, and I look forward to where the rest of this educational experience will take me.