阅读理解
I was once told, “You are wasting your time on a career that
will give you no money or comfort”.
I explored my interests for years and finally decided to be a
journalist. However, I'm still influenced by others' arguments: print publications
are being replaced by web versions where content is updated nearly every time you
refresh the browser. But I hold onto my decision. Why? For the simple, yet powerful
reason that it makes me happy in a way that no amount of money ever could.
Rarely have I found others who think like this, and I find it
very disappointing when I hear students trying to design their lives on the basis
of factors (因素)
other than keeping to their passions and interests.
Factor number one is parents. They certainly have a right to
be a part in their children's lives, but sometimes their words create more stress
than encouragement. Instead of trying to make their children happy, as their original
purpose may have been, parents can end up limiting their children's dreams and desires
until nothing remains but the hard seeds of a cruel reality.
The second factor is money. I had a conversation with my college
friend one afternoon, which explains this point.
“What happened?” I asked him after he said he had changed his
major. “I thought you wanted to be a photographer.”
“I do,” he said, “But there is no money in it. Don't worry,”
he added, probably feeling my worry. “I'm happy where I am.” I was ready to believe
that, but as we kept on talking, he continuously interrupted me to point out the
beauty of this view and that view, saying he wished he had taken his camera with
him.
Naturally, we cannot predict where we will end up with our choices.
Our ideas and plans could change as we progress. However, at this stage in our lives
when so many voices are telling us who we should be, we need to value our individual
dreams, not to abandon them, because they may be the only things left that tell
us who we are.