Here I am, once again, to explain the current position have found myself in. Five months ago I made a decision to forgo obtaining my bachelor’s degree and see what I could learn and accomplish in the world with just my associate’s degree and a desire for experience. This was not an easy choice to make. My tear ducts puddled with fearful waters; I read other people’s testimonials online; I begged my friends for guidance; but ultimately I could not shake the feeling that if I did not take my chances and follow the shouting voice of my gut, I would find myself completely dissatisfied. Despite the possibility of my decision negatively impacting my future career opportunities, I could not be happier with how my life has unfolded in this brief amount of time.

Since exiting college, I have trekked up the Rocky Mountains, scorched my skin on Florida’s sandy shores, ushered my newborn nephew home from the hospital, watched the Kansas City Symphony flawlessly perform Beethoven’s 7th, danced my heart out under flashing lasers and forceful sound waves at the Decadence festival in Denver, and I just returned from sailing across the Western Caribbean with my dear friend, who I can now call my boyfriend. The last 4 months have been life-changing to say the least and I believe that I am only just scratching the surface of all the experiences to come.

I have converted into a go-getter. When I want something I will work to make it mine, without hesitation. This pertains to experiences, friendships, and even my spending habits apply. Previously, I always considered myself to be a more go with the flow, just accept what life offers me, kind of person. For example, I generally took the job that was easily accessible to me and I hardly upgraded. I dated the first person to show an interest, without much review of compatibility. I enrolled in the classes my advisors chose on my behalf, failing to propose my interests. Recently, however, I have found myself taking more responsibility for the use of my invaluable time and filtering the things and people I allow into my life.

I have set my expectations higher in all areas, including in myself. I believe this may have been catalyzed by my decision to leave school when the people I cared the most to impress advised otherwise. Even if this was not the best decision, it taught me I could go against the grain and create my own life, which is an astoundingly powerful feeling. Today, I have found that I am a better friend, a more driven employee, and I am more organized. Additionally, I am increasingly improving my relationship with my family, caring for my body and health, disowning useless belongings and habits, and taking more calculated risks for greater reward, as my hero Joe Rogan suggests. My ambition in life right now is to become an overall better person.

I have also developed a new opinion on what it means to earn a degree and pursue a career in that field. First of all, if you are going to invest tens of thousands of dollars into schooling, when there is so much free educational content online and in libraries, it should be towards a degree that is valuable and guarantees a position in your field. I do believe that I will find myself back in the classroom a few years down the road When I do however it will be for a highly specialized field not a general degree for the down the road.

When I do, however, it will be for a highly specialized field, not a general degree for the sake of having one. Secondly, opportunity is found equally, if not more, through your relationships and competence than scholarly achievements. The truth is, people are more likely to help those who remind them of themselves. So, if you want to attract opportunities from successful people, it is imperative to look the part, feel positivity from within, and radiate confidence. Not only that, but taking time to explore the planet Earth, fill your mind with cultural knowledge, and work a few odd jobs in many different industries while you are young will only set you on a pedestal above all others. If you have a degree, a good energy, and life/professional experience, you will be undeniably superior to all competition. (This is my hypothesis to be proven/refuted over time.)

So what is my plan from here. Number one, to have a plan. Last week, while sipping mojitos in the middle of the ocean, I got on a topic of discussion with my boyfriend about some uncertainties I had pertaining to my future (no better time to ponder over such dilemmas than when you’re on vacation and a little tipsy I always say). I realized my fear of failure only existed because of my inaction on constructing a long term plan. How could I succeed if I have not defined what I am attempting to achieve? Maybe it does not matter what I choose for myself because I can always shift gears, but progress is necessary. Maybe it is better to work toward any goal than never setting one in the first place. The problem was my indecisiveness; but indecisiveness is simply a decision.

So, here’s my plan: I will choose to set clear goals for myself; I will spend the next five years or so traveling all over the globe adopting new perspectives and lifestyle choices; I will continue to express my experiences through artistic outlets such as blogging, video, photography, painting, etc.; then, with all my acquired knowledge, I will choose a major and obtain a degree in that field. This is a rough outline of what I want to do with my life in the coming years. I can adjust it as I see fit, but the point is it exists now in my mind and in text. Cheers.