It’s Ok to Pivot
When I started college, I had a goal of graduating with a science degree so I could become a psychiatrist. It was a career that brought me respect from my family and adults I met. However, deep down, what I wanted to do was work in music. For the first 2 years of undergrad, I prepared myself to eventually go to medical school. However, in the fall 2012, I took organic chemistry. The class was hard. I was unmotivated. I was officially done with the guy I was on and off with since freshman year, which was the beginning of my depression. I passed but barely. Because I was pre-med, I had several required classes and labs, which I was unmotivated to take. I talked to my roommate and she asked, “If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?” Without hesitancy, I answered, “I would work with music.” The following semester I scrapped all my science classes and added music.
However, fear settled. My parents were paying for college. What would they think of the career change? The people who I proudly told I was going to medical school, what would they think? I identified an A&R rep as my dream job and decided marketing would be the best field to study. As I began taking marketing and business classes, I realized I loved it. The classes, despite its challenges, brought me joy. Despite the agonizing fear and anxiety, I persevered and continued studying for a degree I called Music Marketing and Business Communication.
Fast-forward to seven years later, as my relationship with God grew, I started to discover other passions and gifts. I realized that marketing was in fact not the career I wanted to work in long-term. Once again, I was faced with the conundrum of pivoting into another career field. However, this time, I was unmoved by what others had to say because I knew that this vision is what God laid on my heart. Romans 8:31 (NIV) says: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Whether you are in a career you currently love, a career you hate or feeling discontent in your career, I advise you to seek God. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Truly allow Him to have His way in your life. You may be surprise of what dreams He placed inside you to explore.
