Not to toot my horn, but....

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I was actually a pretty decent flutist during my middle school and high school days. There were a few years when I was first chair in our school band, so you could say I was fairly competent. For a time, I actually thought that my future might be in music. At that time in my life, it was the one thing I did pretty well. Then, I went to Stanford for a summer....

The summer that I participated in a summer leadership program, similar to the Lead America programs, was the summer that everything changed for me. I still loved music. I still played my flute. But, I had this hunch that maybe music was not my future. Instead, I started participating in activities I'd never considered before - like Debate Team and Model United Nations. It was in these activities, as well as classes such as American Government and Politics, that I realized I had strengths and passions other than music.

I can vividly remember the confusion during those years while sorting between the skills that had defined my earlier teen years and the new interests that were motivating and inspiring me more than anything before.

Where am I going with all this?

Finding your path is a process. There is a certain amount of trial and error. The first or second thing that you happen to be good at might not necessarily be the area you're meant to base your entire future career on. Give yourself some leeway to try different things. But, be smart about it. There is an endless list of options, so consider what you already know about yourself in terms of your strengths and passions. And, look to the options that groups like Lead America provide. Perhaps, participating in a pre-med or pre-law session will help solidify hunches you had around particular areas for future study or career paths. In addition, look to the new u101 product as a perfect partner to the summer sessions - giving you in depth and very personal insights into your own thinking preferences so that you can make smart decisions about colleges, majors and careers.

I'm really glad that I didn't force myself to stick with a career in music. When I listen to the radio or I go to the symphony, I come face to face with people who have found their calling and who can make music that I could never have made - no matter how hard I tried. I still love music. It is still a part of my life, but it is not my career. And, that's a good thing because I get to do work more in line with my strengths and passions.....such as coaching and engaging with students like you!

Send me a note, post a comment, ask a question... I'd love to hear where you are in this process!