#damonandjo

Why I don’t just leave and travel the world or start my own company. 

Shut Up and Go Seek Discomfort 

I love YouTube and I watch a lot of YouTubers like Damon and Jo or YesTheory - a lot of people who took a huge risk to follow their passion. And it worked out great for them. Even though their videos are very inspirational for me - and many others, I sometimes get really annoyed while watching them.

Because life isn’t that easy. Following your passion doesn’t guarantee success. Risking everything doesn’t always play out. 

I am not at all trying to hate or criticize these people. I am also not saying that anything I am doing is unique or hasn’t been done before. I am just trying to get my point of view across. And writing it down is a great way to sort my thoughts and feelings on this topic. 

I am 21. I don’t know what my passion is. I am interested in a lot of stuff - literature, art, medicine, philosophy and psychology. But nothing does fulfill me. I don’t know what I want to do with my life.

So I try to create possibilities for me.

I already finished an apprenticeship as an Occupational Therapist (that’s possible because some parts of the German educational system are stuck in the Stone Age). I have a good job and I know how lucky I am for that. 

But even during the apprenticeship I knew, that this job won’t make me happy. After the apprenticeship I wanted to do a lot of things - travel, get some job experience and go to university. Even though I am still not 100% sure. 

So here is what I’ve doing to make these things possible for me without throwing caution out of the window:

I am currently doing my “Abitur” via distance learning (a degree which will allow me to go to university - the one I currently have “Realschulabschluss” isn’t enough - but was enough to be an OT)

I work part time as an OT

I try to travel at least 2 times are year - while putting some money to the side to support me when I will go to university and go on a larger backpacking trip

I rent a really small apartment - to safe money for the future

None of these things are endgame for me or my passion. But they guarantee that I will be able to do whatever I want to do. 

I will have my Abitur in 1.5 - 2.5 years. I will have lived this “working for the future - even though I don’t know what kind of future I want to have” lifestyle for about 4 years. That’s a long time. It’s hard to motivate yourself, when you don’t have a specific goal to work towards. But it’s also a fun time. I don’t have to commit to a passion or a job or a country. I have time to learn to look after my self, to improve my mental health and trying to figure out what will make me happy. Or just spend time doing things I like. 

And when I know what I want to do, I will be able to do it 

There can be fun in trying to figure it out, too. 

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We know that summer gets first class seats to fly on by, so how can we make the MOST out of these upcoming months? 

1. No matter what you decide to do, you should always be thoughtful on how you spend your time. Experiences and activities you do this summer can be part of the narratives on your college essays! Don’t count this summer out. Perhaps a small family trip this year will result in some life-changing moments. Maybe the job you just started will teach you lessons you never even knew you needed. 

Always think of how your present life can positively affect your future one. 

2. For those just going into high school/college and to those who have brand new classes for this upcoming year, it always helps to try and get acquainted with the school before your actual start date. You won’t be as anxious on your first day if you already looked around campus a few times and learned where you classes will be. Check to see if your school has an online tour or if you can find the time, grab a couple of friends/family and head over to the school yourself!

You also...won’t get lost like I did my first day (of both high school and college).

3. Take a course so that you don’t have to take it in college. In junior and senior year of high school, you can probably begin to take AP courses, which usually offers you credit you can then use in college. There are also outside-of-school summer courses you can take. There are free courses all around ranging from Mandarin Chinese to Film Studies -- whatever you’re interested in, there’s probably a course for it!

Google is your best friend when it comes to finding those opportunities (but also me).

4. Find a passion. Summer is a great time to explore new ideas and take on different opportunities. You can bring these newfound passions and experiences to high school and to college. As you grow, you’ll gain more clarity on what you want to do during those four years (though passions can change, of course). Get out and around your town too -- we can always be tourists in our own neighborhoods by walking with family down new streets or going into buildings we never have before!

Summer 2019, here we come!