Post-Graduate Diaries: Too Many Interests, One Career

Dear Post-Graduates and readers,

Some people have one true passion, something that’s clearly “their thing” that their career, or sometimes their whole life, revolves around. I’ve always had a collection of passions. Writing, styling, journaling, hosting, and baking all bring me joy, and all these interests feel very me, but when you go into the workforce, you’re usually expected to pick one path and stick to it.

I was talking to my friends about my number of interests and found out there’s actually a name for people who feel this way. They sent me Emilie Wapnick’s Ted Talk, “Why Some of Us Don’t Have One True Calling” (linked here). From that video I learned about what it means to be a multipotentialite. To describe it in my own words, it’s someone who has (and enjoys pursuing) multiple interests. It’s the feeling of being pulled into different directions, without one clear “true calling” standing out above the other cool stuff that makes you happy.

While I’m not typically a fan of motivational speech, “Just Do It”-style content, this Ted Talk actually resonated with me. Wapnick talks about how most people are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s an innocent question, but it plants the idea in us from childhood that there’s only one answer, and the older you get, your answer is supposed to get more serious. Apparently by 26 years old it’s frowned upon to say you want to be a princess when you grow up, even if it’s still the dream. Sigh.

There are a couple ways you can go about feeling fulfilled, even with a lot of passions.

First option: Remember that your job is just that, a job. It can be interesting and very important to you while not being your entire identity. If you’re a multipotentialite, try to find a job that satisfies one of your many passions and gives you the space and balance to dedicate time to other things. I created Worth Every Mile to allow myself a space to write about the things I enjoy, and I started an Instagram page so I could dabble in creating positive, aesthetic content, even showing off some outfits every so often if I want to (or learning how to without embarrassing myself… which is I guess is part of the process). Even if you aren’t getting paid for it, creating an outlet for your passions can make you feel more fulfilled, especially if it’s something that can help others.

Option two: Split your time between multiple jobs that each fulfill a different passion. Maybe they’re both part time or freelance, maybe one is full-time and the other is on your own schedule. Trying to pick only one career can be stressful. It can feel like picking one thing means leaving your other interests behind, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

As you choose to take or ignore (I won’t be offended) my advice, please be advised that I’m writing from a place of privilege. I’ve never had to work two jobs out of financial necessity and I know everyone’s experience with work is different. Take this advice and apply it to your life how it best suits you and your personal situation.

All this to say, there’s no single right path for balancing everything you love, and there never has been. What matters more than having a perfectly defined plan is allowing yourself the freedom to explore, to create, and to spend time on things that make you happy.