Choosing your path to success

Most people do not mean to influence other’s decisions as much as they actually do. They mean well, and make comments indicating they “support” whatever decision you choose. But they also hint that if you do what they did, you could be just like them! What people might not like to know is while their comments have weight in my choice, I am going to choose my path based on what I want to do, not what worked for them. I appreciate the advice, especially since I usually ask for it. What I do not appreciate is the hinting that choosing a path someone encourages means I will do better in life or be more successful (whatever that means).

Success is such an arbitrary term; for some it means wealth, for others it means family and so on. The meaning of success can change as well, events in the life course shift an individual’s perspective, therefore changing the meaning of success for that individual. For me, success is feeling peace. This definition, if you will, allows flexibility to manipulate my paths in life. I do not necessarily need money to achieve success, although I guess if you have a quantitative mind I could see that. I simply need personal happiness, which usually involves the people I surround myself with being happy as well. If I am comfortable with my direction in life, my job, my partner, my relationships and my personal growth, why should the amount in my bank account matter to me?

I have been pondering the direction my life will take after I graduate from Radford University in May. There are endless possibilities based on what I want to be and accomplish in life. This is a difficult decision, and I started to view it from an entirely different perspective than I normally would when making a huge choice; I began thinking about what I truly want for myself. The answer I came up with was simple -- I want knowledge.

I want to learn something new every single day of my life until I am no longer on this Earth. Whether that knowledge comes from school, from exploring new cultures or from excelling at my job, I just want more. This decision has led me to my final conclusion -- graduate school is absolutely the right choice for me right now. I am not ready to work a 9-to-5 job; I want to have the chance to grow each and every day. I know what I am getting myself into to obtain a masters degree, because my incredible sister is graduating from Texas State in May with her very own M.S. While my parents are concerned with her student loan debt, I am not worried about it. I feel I have a better shot making more money right after college if I have a higher degree, more schooling and a better attitude about the work force.

There are reservations my parents, professors and others have pointed out, which mostly concern the financial burden. High student loan debt will not be a problem for me since I went to an extremely affordable school that my lovely parents contributed a portion of tuition for me to attend, and I am already halfway to saving enough money to pay for graduate school in cash. The wonderful communications department at Radford has a program for an affordable masters degree that I intend on being accepted to.

With this worry out of my mind, I cannot find many downsides to another two years of school.

To any seniors in college still on the fence about what to do upon graduation, I implore you to consider continuing your education. There is nothing bad about being more intelligent, and the longer you wait the harder it becomes to go back to school (so I have heard). Whatever path you choose, whatever brings you closer to your version of success, make sure you are the one to choose it.

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FOR THE ODYSSEY