When people are asked what they want to do after college, their answers are almost always geared towards career paths, salaries, and professional goals. I’ve been guilty of this too– because I think that’s what people want from me. When people (usually older people that my parents introduced me to who are always as talented as can be) ask me what I want to do after college, I often answer with a simple “I’m not sure, but I’m studying finance, so probably something in that field.” The expectation is that we should have a clear plan– a specific job title in mind, an industry we want to work in, and a step-by-step plan on how to get there. But for me, I’ve never really had an answer to the career aspect of that question. I do, however, think that question shouldn’t just be about what job I’ll have– it should also be about the kind of life I want to live.

All my life, I’ve been taught that success is measured through three markers: money, status, and connections. Especially in the culture that I grew up in, there is an unspoken pressure to climb the corporate and social ladder, accumulate wealth, and earn “respect” by gaining a prestigious professional position. I understand where that comes from, especially because my parents immigrated from India to the States to gain professional prestige to support their family back home and give us a more luxurious childhood than they had. My parents have raised me to value monetary and professional success over all other forms since I was a child. I never went to public school for this very reason– I went to a private school for pre-k, a top charter school for elementary school (that was an hour away from my house), and magnet schools for middle and high school (which we moved houses to be in the school district of). Every sacrifice they made was for me and my brother to become their version of successful. My version looks different.

To me, success isn’t about prestige or wealth but the happiness I find in my work, personal life, and relationships. I don’t want to find myself in a career that drains me or takes me away from the people I love, no matter how much money I could be making. I want to wake up each morning excited to live my life. I want to be passionate about what I’m doing, and I want my work to bring me a sense of purpose and fulfillment. 

Although I don’t have a real plan for what my career will be, I do know what kind of work would bring this fulfillment and sense of purpose to my life. I want to help people and feel like my work is making a difference while doing what I love. I love math and the concepts of finance, but it’s not commonly used to help people. I want to find ways to do this which could look like financial planning for underserved communities or public policy and economic development. There are ways to find people in every career path– you just have to be creative. Even if my career doesn’t bring me the most money, knowing that I can help others would be a great joy.

Of course, financial stability is important–being independent and supporting myself is a crucial part of the future I want to have–but I don’t want money to dictate my happiness. It would be naive of me to say that I don’t care about money, but I just don’t want to spend my life chasing material wealth at the cost of the things that truly bring me joy.

One of the most important aspects of my future is finding a balance between independence and community. I want to be self-sufficient without being dependent on others. At the same time, I recognize the value of relationships– the people we surround ourselves with large in shaping our worlds. I want to build meaningful connections with people I care about while maintaining my sense of individuality. I don’t want to lose my sense of self in others’ expectations, but I don’t want to live an entirely self-centered life. 

When I picture my future, I think about the people who will be a part of it—my friends, my family now, and the family I may have in the future. The relationships I cultivate will be just as important as any professional accomplishment I could achieve. What is success if you do not have people in your life who value you as much as you value them?

I don’t believe that there is only one way to find fulfillment. It would be a gift to be satisfied on my own and to be able to support others at the same time. Part of this is finding a balance between contentment in everyday moments and healthy growth in both my career and personal life. 

I hope to always be evolving, learning, and pushing myself to become a better person. I want that growth to be driven by passion and purpose, not external pressures. Growing while also being grateful for what I have will lead to the peaceful life that I envision myself living in the future. And that’s who I want to be after college: a strong, fierce woman who is grateful for everything she has but knows that it’s important to grow from the experiences she has. I want to be someone who is content and understands the meaning of her life.