Kindred Spirits
Be your best
by: Teresa Bell Kindred
 When
you were young and someone asked you what you wanted to be when
you grew up, what was your answer?
Our 9-year-old twins want to
be "dirt bike racers." As a mother, that doesn't exactly
thrill me, but I don't worry about it too much-I know there's a
good chance that they will change their minds many times before
they enter the working world. Time goes by and as we change, so do
our dreams.
When I graduated from high
school I didn't have a clue as to what I wanted to be. I guess you
could say I went to college because of two reasons: I had faith
that I would eventually find something I wanted to do, and because
my parents were determined I would have a college education.
Although I studied English and
history in college, my first job was in the field of marketing
research. My husband began his career as a respiratory therapist,
went back to school, and is now in hospital administration. Most
of my friends have changed jobs many times and many of them are
not working in the field from which they received their college
degree.
There are a few individuals
who know early on in life without a doubt what their ultimate goal
is and see with clarity the path they must take to get there…but
they are the minority. Most of us climb the career ladder one rung
at a time. With time and trial and error, we reach our goals. It
is a growing process that takes time and patience.
Think about it the next time
you ask a new graduate, "What do you want to do?" A
better question might be, "What are you interested in?"
In my opinion,
"what" they do is not nearly as important as
"how" they do it.
My parents told me many times
that they didn't care what my career goals were as long as I gave
it my all. If I became a ditch digger, I was to be the best ditch
digger I was capable of being.
Art Linkletter once said,
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of
the way things turn out."
New graduates and those just
entering the working world, whatever path you choose, I hope you
remember those words of wisdom. They will serve you well.
Teresa Bell Kindred is a wife, mom, and teacher. Her latest book is Mom:PHD: Leadership Skills for Moms. Visit her online at www.teresakindred.com.
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