CONTRIBUTOR'S CORNER – A KID’S VS. A COLLEGE STUDENT’S DREAM JOB
Evan Yelenich

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The age old question people always ask children is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” At the time, I knew exactly what I wanted to be—a baseball player. I wanted to play center field for the Seattle Mariners wearing number 23 with my name on the back of the uniform. I had hopes of making great plays, becoming the all-time steals leader, and winning the World Series; I could be playing alongside King Felix and Robinson Cano right now. I’m sure most of you had these big dreams of becoming an astronaut, a singer, or even a superhero! At least you didn’t say you wanted to become a dinosaur (maybe one or two of you did). But the answer to that same proverbial question slowly begins to change when you hit middle school and realize you probably can’t be a superhero or a major league baseball player. Maybe you’ll be a team owner or change the world instead of saving it. Once you hit high school and college, however, reality can start to hit. You probably are not going to change the world or even play baseball anymore. You start to focus on what you are studying and what you can do with those studies.

Some students aren’t even looking for a dream job anymore, just a job.

As a kid, you have big aspirations for yourself that change over time. When students come into college, some have an idea of what they want to do but not the kind of job they want. My freshman year of college I knew I wanted to travel the world, I just didn’t know exactly how. With only two weeks left of college, I’m still not really sure I’ll find a job that allows me to travel (probably should have had one by now). As a college student, you still have a dream job
but it is more realistic than a baseball player or superhero. Most dream of working for a certain company or industry. I barely have those dreams. If you have a passion for something, go ahead and go after it. My dream job would probably be working for Under Armour selling their equipment to international sports teams and players to wear such as Real Madrid FC or Novak Djokovic.

Whatever your dream job was, whether to be a superhero or to work for Under Armour, don’t lose the passion to find something that makes you happy. People say all the time “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Find something that you love and rewarding in the end just like a superhero saving the world.

Batkid saving the city of San Francisco last November; his dreams were made true by Make-a-Wish Foundation