Future Career

I’ve recently changed my major. From about sixth grade all the way through ninth grade, I wanted to be an Emergency Room nurse. Possibly a doctor, but who knew. I was planning on going to the University of Iowa for pre-med, and eventually working in a hospital in Cedar Rapids. But in the beginning of tenth grade, and I’ll never forget this, my dad said to me: “Lauren, I want you to get up every day excited to go to work. Don’t look for a job, look for your passion; and if your passion pays, then you’ve got it made.” And that was all I needed to hear. I was going to teach music. Music is my life, and if I could pass that on to other people and get paid to do it? Hell yes I was going to do that. I was pumped. ‘Okay Lauren, new plan.” I was now planning to go to Iowa State University, and double major in Music and Education. I was set; until about a week ago. A friend of mine asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and suddenly I didn’t know. Although music is my passion and always will be, it’s also my pastime; my enjoyment. It’s not a job to me. I’d rather have an eventful day working in the emergency room as a doctor or a nurse, and then outside of work, continue to pursue music in another way. Such as community theatre, or teaching my kids piano. Whatever it takes, music will never cease to be a part of my life. But in reality, an Emergency Room nurse is a better fit for me. I don’t see that as a job, either. I’ve always loved that sort of thing. Blood fascinates me. It’s the coolest thing; having to figure out what’s wrong with the patient, officially diagnosing them, and then treating the problem. If that’s not exciting enough, the emergency part of it is amazing. Screaming patients being rushed into the Emergency Room, needing immediate medical attention. I can get a different kind of joy from that than I can from music, and I think that’s awesome. I couldn’t be a music teacher and then a nurse on the side. But I can become an Emergency Room nurse and still pursue music as a separate thing. I think that’s what’s best for me, and I’m going back to my original plan. I’m not concerned about the financial aspect, although being an Emergency Room nurse would be more financially beneficial.