I see a lot of people who tell young people–especially young people who are heading into college–that they should “do what they love.” And they’re right. You should do what you love.
But there’s a world of difference between doing what you love for you, and doing what you love for a paycheck.
I went to undergrad for graphic design and 3-D design–art and more art, I usually say–and I loved it. You know what I didn’t love? Trying to collect my fees from clients. Trying to meet unrealistic, over-simplified or over-specific briefs from people who didn’t know what they were talking about. Coming home, having worked creatively all day, with no creative juice left for the things I wanted to do.
You know what I would tell you instead? Do something that you can be interested in, with people you like.
You don’t have to love it. Loving your work can be a lot, and it often means you have to live in your job 24/7. Some people can do that. Not everyone can, or should. But if you can find work that’s interesting enough that it doesn’t feel tedious, and people you can enjoy spending your 9-5 with, and you can make money, that’s great! It means you can do the things you love for you.
I’m in law school now. It’s interesting work, and difficult, and I like doing it. I like how complicated it gets, and I like the stories it tells. But I don’t come home and read law journals for fun. I come home, and I sculpt, and I draw, and I paint, and I read. I do these things for me.
And I love it.
Gods I wish I’d had this ten years ago when everyone was pushing for me to do art for a living. Probably wouldn’t have burned out as hard as I did
Once when I was high school a teacher from another school came into our class and talked about stuff like this. He said instead of trying to get a job you love, find a lifestyle you love.
He said he had no aspirations to be a teacher. His passion is surfing. But the reason he loves teaching is because he can go surfing every weekend, because there’s no school. And he’s free during the summer and holidays to spend time with his family.
Good food for thought. This is why I don’t study art in college even though I LOVE it. I also don’t want someone grading me for my direct expression, but it’s more bc I want to have a job that gives me the option to do art as a hobby with financial security. Obviously this isn’t to say being a pro artist is bad or anything, but think long and hard about ALL of your options.