Follow your passion

Of all the people I know, those who pursue their passion and make a living out of what they love are often the happiest. People are not always fortunate enough to find out, at the right age, what they want to do with their lives. Most people end up changing their jobs, or careers a number of times before they are satisfied.

But knowing what you want to do does not always come easily. It starts with curiosity and a drive to be involved in that field. If you don't know what your passion is, you may want to try participating in different activities. Try to explore yourself to find out what you're good at, and what you like to do best.
As a high school student, I did well in most subjects, and I wasn't sure whether I wanted to pursue a career in sciences or humanities.

Having a wide array of choices made it more difficult for me to choose. With the encouragement of my teachers and family members, I decided to pursue writing and so I joined a student newsletter where I met every week with students interested in writing and social work. At university, I became a staff reporter for the student newspaper and eventually editor in my final year. Today, I am working as a reporter — something I love.

Rashid Al Nooryani, the medicine student we have featured this week, has a passion and determination that evoke our admiration. Although he knew what he wanted to do at a young age, he wouldn't have been able to take the first step had he not worked hard and showed determination.
Deciding what you want to do with your life is a tough choice on its own, let alone external pressures such as the current financial crisis.

It may limit your options; it may motivate you to study longer or to fine-tune your skills to be able to compete with experienced professionals in your field. But most of the achievers say that it is when you do something wholeheartedly that success follows.