FINDING PURPOSE IN LIFE - AND A BIG THANK YOU

When people ask you about what sort of career you want to pursue as an adult, the age-old "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question, do you also hear them ask "What are you passionate about?" Telling kids to pursue their passions is a very trendy way to talk about career goals right now.

What do you think? Do you think you need to be passionate about your job 24/7/365 in order for it to be a good fit?

I actually prefer the idea of finding a job that gives you purpose.

Dictionary.com defines purpose as:

1. the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.
2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
3. determination; resoluteness.

First, let's say I don't mean number one, because in general you are not your job and your job is not you, so your job should not be the reason you exist.

But what if your job helps you to live life with intentionality, to aim for something, to have goals that you find meaningful? Does that seem like work you would want to pursue?

If you can find this in your future employment you are one lucky person; certainly not everyone succeeds in making this part of their career. But your job is only one part of your day, and sometimes you can find purpose in hobbies, clubs, volunteering, or charitable works.

For instance, Charles and Lynn Zhang just created the Charles and Lynn Zhang Scholarship. The scholarship will cover the cost of registration fees, books, and calculators for ATYP students who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

 

The Zhangs both earned graduate degrees from Western Michigan University and run a Michigan-based fee-only financial planning and investment firm, Zhang Financial. In addition, the Zhang's two sons, Mitchell and Alex, are ATYP alumni. The Zhangs are supporters of many programs on campus, including the Zhang Career Center in the Haworth College of Business and the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. Lynn Chen-Zhang serves as vice chair of the WMU Board of Trustees, and is also president of the WMU Foundation Board of Directors. Charles Zhang has served as an adjunct professor of finance at WMU. 

While you can probably guess that the Zhangs have careers that are financially and professionally rewarding, you can also see that they have found purpose by giving back to their community. Their gifts are meaningful not just in terms of money, but also in terms of time and talent, and those are ways of giving that are especially priceless.

Henry David Thoreau wrote "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." So think about what gives you purpose, find a role model or two, and follow those dreams. We can't wait to see which path you take...

Until next time,

Ms. Nan