Going with the Flow

As soon as you graduate college (or high school), the first thing that people ask you is, “What's next?” At the age of 18 or 21, you're expected to know exactly what you want to do. When I graduated college, I was 20 years old. I had my degree in English and was being pushed to make a decision. When people asked me what I wanted to do, I confidently responded, “Write and edit, and perhaps teach in the future.” Until last year, I truly thought my calling in life was to write. My mom and my pastor even told me that they could picture me writing a book. I have NEVER wanted to write a book. Even when I was writing almost everyday, I never saw myself writing a book. I'm one of the most uninteresting people on the planet. What the hell would I write a book about?? So for two years, I dabbled in editing and copywriting and blogging.

I started writing when I was 9 years old as a way to cope with the so-called preteen and teen angst that I thought was bottled up inside. Writing was the only way I knew how to express myself. From 9 years old to now, I think I've filled at least 200+ journals. When I was fresh out of college, I applied to at least 150 writing jobs. I mailed applications to newspapers I didn't even know existed, never even getting one interview. I was persistent as hell. The more applications I filled out, the more angry I became. Magazines and newspapers wanted experienced writers, but how could I get experience if no one would give it to me?

Shortly after creating PBK, I decided to go back to school to get my credential so I can at least start on one of my dreams. Once I started substitute teaching and working with kids, I realized why I never gotten a writing job. It was God's way of saying, "Hold your horses, young grasshopper." My preference of writing over teaching should have been switched. I found teaching more fulfilling. Once I told everyone that I was going to be a teacher, they were confused about my desire to write. At the age of 18, you're not always going to be 100% sure of what you want to do. Even now, I would have never thought that I'd be starting a bartending business at the age of 22, but guess what. I am. And it's actually going pretty well too.

I love writing and the beauty of words and language, but I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to discover my other passions—teaching and bartending (*insert shameless plug here* Check out PBKBartending.com!). Whatever age you are, go for all of your goals. You never know where they'll take you.

♥P.