Building a Dream Life

It’s seven months from graduation. Seven months until us seniors are released into the wild as caterpillars that are ready to transform into butterflies. While this is extremely exciting, it’s also pretty terrifying. At least for me. Let’s be real, life is changing whether we are ready or not. In today’s society, we can make a living from virtually any career. Huffington Post released an article with some of the most bizarre job titles, which ranged from Combat Designer at PlayStation to Director of Storytelling at Microsoft to even Genius at Apple. How are we to figure out our dream job when our options are literally endless?

So I took a look at some professionals to see their advice on how to determine and land my dream job. Forbes published an article entitled “7 Unconventional Ways to Land Your Dream Job” where they discuss ways to market yourself better and get the job.Another slightly-less-notable company I referenced is iwillteachyoutoberich.com. Their approach is somewhat different than Forbes because they recommend focusing on networking and negotiating rather than selling your skills.

But then where does that leave me? What if I don’t really know what my dream job is? I know what I’m passionate about right now, but I think our passions evolve as we grow. Four years ago, I did not even know what graphic design was, nor couldI predict that by the end of my college career, I would be pursuing it wholeheartedly. What other careers have I not discovered yet?

This leads me to the idea that we may never really know our “dream job.” We can have ideas and goals and ten-year plans, but in reality, how many times does our life actually follow those plans?

I think rather than setting our focus on our dream job, we should focus on the person we want to be and the environment we want to be in. DailyMail.com conducted a study that states that Americans will spend 73% of their lives working or at school. That’s a little intimidating. While this number is daunting, it encourages me to not just find a job, but rather find a calling.

A calling to a certain purpose, not just a certain job. As technology grows and expands, we have no idea what types of jobs will be available in the future, so rather than focusing on that, I dream of following my passions for creation, service, and change. I have no idea where this path will take me in life, but that is part of the beauty. The beauty of mystery.

I think back to my days in Sunday School, and I can’t help but think of Proverbs 3:5-6. This verse states, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV). What a simple and beautiful statement. If we trust in God and do His work, He will lead us through this life. As we go through job and life changes, He will guide us. When we experience job loss, recessions, or technological innovation, He will never leave us.

So instead of focusing on our dream jobs, let’s focus on the dream people we want to be, the dream life we want to live. But where does that leave me now? I’m about to graduate and need to find a job. This means I will start searching for ways to reach towards my dream life.

My dream life would be one where I have the opportunity to create, travel, serve people, love God, and find genuine fulfillment in my work. If you hear of a job description like that, let me know. Because that’s where I want to be.