TED Talk Scott Dinsmore
I was watching this TED talk about how to find work you’re truly passionate about. Mostly I started watching it because I feel like I’m still wondering what I want to be when I grow up.
But as I watched, it made me think. First, it made me think that there is definitely a trend in society toward authenticity. It’s becoming true that more people are in search of doing what matters to them, of doing what they are passionate about, than simply what is the “smartest” or “best” path. What I love most about this is that it requires a path of self discovery. It is necessary to discover who you are and what you love in order to live this kind of authentic lifestyle.
Second, I thought, “I wonder how this trend will impact the way we prepare our children to go out into the world.” In the video, the speaker points out that kids often spend more time picking out a dorm TV than they do a major, and wonders why a dual major in self-discovery isn’t a required part of education.
After spending a good chunk of money on college degrees that still haven’t lead me to my passion, I couldn’t agree more. Especially with the rising costs of college, kids are leaving school with mountains of debt and still no real idea about who they are or what they love to do.
I’m as much an advocate for college as anyone, but at what point does this become a bad sales scam? Where we’re brain washing people into believing they need something without knowing for sure if it’s actually what they need or not? I think everyone should go to college, but I think if they are using it to explore their passion, then we shouldn’t be pressuring them into a major. And before they declare a major, we should be asking if it’s truly what they want to do.
Or better yet, we should be teaching them to ask those questions for themselves.
I really didn’t mean to end up in a rant. (Story of my life, lol!) I just found it interesting to consider the possibilities of how this new trend toward authentic living might impact the way our children grow to think about “work”. And what we choose to teach them about “work”. But I suppose that’s the whole point of this blog, isn’t it. 🙂