Pub talk

On wednesday I went to the pub with and old friend and newly met ones. While we were having the awkward breaking-the-ice conversation, the inevitable question came up: so, what are your plans after college? Inevitable, 3 out of the 4 kids in the table said: I will probably open a company (the fourth one who didn't say that was me). Even though I am used to their answer, as 90% of students in my university answer the same thing, I can't help it but feel a little sad.
Before I continue, I will say that it would be extremely hypocritical of my part to talk bullshit about the business industry, after all, thanks to my mother's job I was able to afford going to a school in america and travel to London. I am the proud daughter of a business woman, and I am not by any means afraid to yell this to whomever wants to hear it.
Now, here is my problem with everybody wanting to open a company: our society seems to associate success with business. Since were are kids we are wired to make this association and we all (including myself) buy this bullshit without thinking twice. The result is a bunch of young adults who are brilliant in other fields trying deny their true passions because they think that they would never achieve success - and therefore be happy- by being a sociologist.
Just to make my point, I will use an example: my best friend is absolutely brilliant. She is funny, sassy, extremely politically aware and very determined. She loves international affairs and journalism. I can see her being a fantastic journalist, an amazing human rights advocate and much, much, more. When she talks about poverty, her eyes lit up and you just know that if she could work with any Non - Profit she would be happy for the rest of her life. And yet, if you ask her what internship she is looking for next semester, she will say that she is looking for an internship in a bank. She is good in economics, and she knows that that's the right step to take in order to get into the business industry. Why the business industry? because that's where all opportunities and happiness is. Or so we are told.
And there you have it. Another person giving up on a dream without even realizing what her dream was.
Now I am beginning to understand the cheesy quotes: "never give up on your dreams" or "you are never too old to achieve greatness" and all that crap. After that conversation on the pub with my friends, I began wondering how many of us give up on our dreams just like that, by choosing to look for an internship at bank of america instead of at Amnesty International. How many of us slowly give up on an anthropology major to add "pre law" to our diplomas. And just like that, with small decisions, we give up on what we once wanted so passionately to follow the so called "path to success". No wonder middle age crisis is a real thing. My only question is why it takes us to be 50 years old to realize that most of us give up on our dreams without giving it a real shot.
I wish with all my heart that my friend gives up on her economics internship and pursue a career that will truly make her happy. A career that will bring a whole new meaning to the word success.

 On wednesday, when they asked what my plans were after college, I said I wanted to continue with Peace Studies and maybe save the world one day. It gives me a little peace of mind to know that I haven't given up on my dreams.....at least not yet.

(as for my best friend, fear not, she hasn't given up on her dreams either, she just needs a friend to constantly remind her that her dreams are who she is, and giving up on them would be to kill our chances to be happy.)