It Took Me Three Degrees and a Pandemic to Find My Passion
By: Cassie Regan
Tags: Life Lessons, Self, Self Improvement, Writing, Life

Photo by Green Chameleon on Unsplash

Let me start by saying I did not quit my job to follow my passion and now live in total bliss. I have read countless stories like that and although inspiring, I have to say that following your dream is a bit easier when you have a six-figure bank account to finance it. I never have earned six figures, let alone even high five figures. I have however tried to find work with a purpose that also pays the bills. I do admire those that have left their stock market jobs or other highly successful careers to fulfill their passion to be an artist or whatever else drives them, but my journey is just a bit different.

I would also like to preface that I recognize my privilege. I grew up where going to college was not a matter of if or how, but which. Although I did work my way through school and accrued mountains of debt in student loans to attend, I still recognize that I am fortunate to have been able to go to college in the first place. That being said, let us begin with degree number one.

I went to college not having any idea of what career I wanted to pursue. I chose to major in Communications because like many, I figured it was the one degree that could be applied to whatever career choice I ended up going into (says every student majoring in Communications). I have always loved books and ideally thought, well if I become a publisher I could literally get paid to write and read books all day. Obviously, with one google search, I discovered the likelihood of true success in that field is comparative to becoming an actor in Hollywood. With every year as the rational road widened, the career option path narrowed in my mind.

It wasn’t until the last semester of my senior year of college that I took a creative writing course. It blew my mind. It was my absolute favorite class I had taken in my entire four years at the university. I graduated and quickly became a full-time successful writer, following my passion and fulfilling my dreams — yah no. I did not have a Legally Blonde montage moment, where I went from dreamer to doer with the purchase of a new laptop. Instead, a flood of rational thoughts resulting in a thudding migraine screamed back at me — A writer? Really? Who do you think you are? Practicality and feasibility won. I took the road most reliably traveled by.

I graduated and got a job as a substitute teacher to support myself while I went back to school to get a postgraduate degree in Elementary Education — degree number two. I had always been great with kids and loved teaching. It gave me a creative outlet, developing lessons and educational games, reading incredible children’s books, and even creating fantastical stories of my own. I threw myself into teaching. I taught for about five years and although amazingly fulfilling, I always had this itch that there was something else I was supposed to be doing. I found myself dedicating my nights to writing my own children’s book which, looking back, should have been a huge hint. They say the average adult has at least three major career changes in their lifetime, so here we go!

The classroom was missing something for me, so once again I turned to higher education (let the student loans grow!). I went back to school to get my Masters in Nonprofit Management so that would have the skills to effect change on a larger scale — degree number three. After graduating and landing a great job in the nonprofit industry, I felt I was making a real difference. I was working with a statewide agency that was helping hundreds of families. Although extremely rewarding once again, I still found myself finding more satisfaction in writing staff emails, newsletters, and marketing content than I did any other tasks. You would think I would have taken the second hint, but still, the resistance continued.

It was not until COVID hit and the pandemic left me quarantined and unemployed that the fire was finally lit under my ass. In the months that followed, I turned to books for inspiration and my notebook for comfort. I began journaling my frustrations and goals for a better tomorrow. I started writing posts for my super successful and yet very imaginary blog. Of course, as I do with most things, I went from zero to sixty and simultaneously took on the task of writing a novel, because why not?

Over several weeks and continuing on into the next few months, writing became my escape and my sanity. My way to purge the uncertainty of this insane time, and ignite the ideas for the hopefully brighter future. I always envied those that could get lost in a passion. Those that lose track of time because they are so enthralled with what they were doing. With writing, I finally became one of them. It has been a long (and very very expensive) journey. I obviously wish I had found it earlier, taken life’s little hints, but I have no regrets. With more experience comes better writing, right?

I am still holding on to the stability a nine-to-five provides because there are mouths to feed and bills to pay, but these days — that itch I once felt that something was missing, is gone. So to anyone who is feeling that itch, whatever it is — don’t hesitate, scratch it! Scratch the shit out of it!

Not everyone has a passion they are dying to unmask, but if you do, I urge you to take life’s little hints and reveal it. You may save yourself from years of questioning the what-ifs, not to mention years of accruing debt on the what-nows.