Thinking about my future
The average life span is around 78.4 years. Everyone only gets one chance to live their life, so why live it doing what others want? For years, I have been inspired by stars such as the well known comedian and talk show host Jimmy Fallon, entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey, and interviewer Amelia Dimoldenberg. Each of these talented individuals risked so much of their lives to do what they felt drawn to. By not taking life for granted, they decided to focus on their happiness and living those 78.4 years to the fullest, a path I now feel called to.
For a large part of my life, people have appreciated my listening skills and my ability to lead conversations and connect with others on a deeper level, as I ask individuals thoughtful questions and listen intently to what they have to say. At first, I deemed this as a hobby as I watched interviews given by Dimoldenberg and Fallon and curated a notes app list of potential questions to ask in interviews that I dreamed of leading. However, as enough years went by of vividly watching new Chicken Shop Date episodes come out, it finally occurred to me that maybe I could expand my interest in engaging with others on a deeper level to the workforce. I soon realized that there is no better time than the present to harness my abilities and desires, just like these entrepreneurs.
Why these stars?
To begin, these three entrepreneurs inspire me in a multitude of ways as they each embody risk takers. For starters, comedy star Jimmy Fallon, dropped out of college just one semester before he graduated to pursue his aspirations of becoming a famous comedian. The people around this 20 year old man shook their heads in disbelief, pitying him as they saw a future of rejections and waiting tables. However, Fallon did not let this negativity stop him from following his dreams. Instead, he held his head high, determined to bring his aspirations to life despite the disappointment from family and peers around him. Ultimately, due to his resilience and fearlessness of the unknown, Fallon ended up incredibly happy with millions of dollars in his bank account, and not to mention Beyonce in his contacts. Yes, academics can be difficult in college, but don’t worry, I am not using Fallon’s story as an excuse to drop out. Instead, Fallon’s persistence pursuades me to confidently make my future decisions and dreams come true.
As I continued to research the backgrounds and originality of each of these individuals that created an empire for themselves, there was one similarity that we shared that stood out to me: each of us major(ed) in all different fields, none especially pertaining to the industry that they are in now. With Amelia majoring in fashion, Oprah in performing arts, and Fallon in computer science, I am inspired to continue my studies of Business and Asian studies, knowing that hard work, drive, and sheer desire for something can align well with academics. To expand, I could use my Business and Asian studies degree in the future in a multitude of ways, ultimately incorporating a special perspective to journalism. Knowing this information about these stars provides me with comfort in recognizing that I should not have to feel this constant pressure of picking the “right” major that defines my entire future. If Jimmy Fallon spent 4 years of his life as a computer scientist and ended up hosting a talk show, there’s no need on my part to stress for the “right” major.
So…how do I begin?
Well, it looks like I have done all the research (or..most of it) needed to know what makes a unique interviewer. I have learned what makes for a good question, how to properly interact with others, and to connect on a deeper level. But, how do I actually put this skill to use?
To be honest, this has been something cooking in the back of my mind since 2019 in the height of Covid when I was bored out of my mind scrolling myself to oblivion on TikTok.
One of the main reasons why I am taking Disco is so that I can learn what skills I must harness to create a business for myself, and take something that I am passionate about (my chaotic never-ending list of interview questions) and turn it into something tangible, reliable, and permanent.
Given that I plan to stick with my current majors, I also am determined to turn this hobby into something real. A few ideas I have are bringing this passion to life on campus. I could do this by interviewing my friends, classmates, and peers; taking insight from Amelia Dimoldenberg’s exciting and amusing Chicken Shop Date. Additionally, as I add to my long list of “interview questions”, I could also experiment with different social media platforms bringing it to life via Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Ultimately, I hope to bring my aspirations and dreams to life, taking inspiration from stars prominent in the pop-culture industry, as they each seize control of their life and live in the moment, trusting that their passion, determination, and devotion will pay off in the long run.
What does “YOLO” mean to me?
I have used this saying quite a lot in my life. Whether it be deciding to have that extra scoop of Van Leeuwen’s double chocolate brownie ice cream with hot fudge or staying up too late cramming for a test, deciding to “prioritize” sleep over extra studying, (“you only live once, why spend it studying for so long for a test?”) It’s safe to say that this expression has gotten me into trouble a time or two. However, when I think back on the 19 years that I have currently lived, I am ultimately satisfied with the outcome this phrase has brought me. Now, I think it is finally time to put “YOLO” to use on a greater scale in my life if I want to accomplish my goals and harness my abilities. By using these stars as motivation, I can bring my dreams to life, having full faith and trust in my ability to not take the 78.4 years (or longer!) for granted.
