What Next ?

So I got another “what next?” question … I couldn’t really express myself as I was asked by a director so I had to politely explain the little answer I could come up with. He probably didn’t seem so impressed; then he got talking about his children who also graduated from Covenant University and are living the “leadership purpose”: his son just started his business and his daughter was about opening a clinic. This was a great information to share with me and he probably had good intentions but I wasn’t interested in being asked “what next?”; maybe because I didn’t know what I wanted to do next (as per long term goals) or I’m just still discovering myself.

That question sometimes seems to throw me off balance. I think I would prefer if I was asked “what are you doing now? Do you enjoy it ?” and figure if the answer is good enough for my current phase in life. At 20 years old, I’m done with my first degree in accounting and currently in my professional stage of ACCA.. I think that’s good enough right now but with the expectations of other people, sometimes it feels like I’m not where I’m supposed to be. I am also learning new things about myself: I finally started writing, I read more and I actually baked cupcakes… I am very happy about that.

I haven’t figured myself out yet and yes, I know some of my peers are already doing big things but I’m not wasting my life either. I am still exploring (not irresponsibly) and it would be nice if people around don’t make that seem so bad. I’ve been reading more recently and one thing I’ve noticed is that some of the people who become successful in particular fields didn’t even imagine that they would be in such fields. They discovered their passion eventually even when it wasn’t the career they were building. So why do I have to be all figured out right now?
I choose to add value where I am now, develop myself and keep learning. I don’t know exactly where I want to be in the next 5 or 10 years but I have an idea of what the next 3 years of my life could be, thanks to ACCA; let that be a fair enough response for now.

I know it’s nice to have goals and that game plan but sometimes the pressure to have all that could be overwhelming.
Dear wonderful reader, learn to encourage and be careful with your words especially when questioning a young person or someone who just graduated. Some of us aren’t figured out yet but we’re going to walk in “purpose” eventually.

For the young people or recent graduates, I believe you’re allowed be a work in progress but make sure you keep adding value and developing yourself; little progress is better than no progress. I recently learnt of the term “Identity Capital” as a replacement for “identity crisis” – basically it’s just to encourage young people that engaging in various skills, internships or jobs  don’t have to “confuse” you but rather let them develop you for the future. “No knowledge is wasted”.

Don’t give up. I’ve also learnt to look up to God whenever I feel lost, you could do the same; there’s this peace and hope that comes with trusting God to make the best out of your life.

“..For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!]” – Hebrews 13:5 AMP

God is in control of your life…. how beautiful to know to that! Relax in His Hands.

Photo by Ashley Batz on Unsplash