18 to 28: How to figure out what you want to do with your life.

EJ Carrion
Aug 27, 2017 · 3 min read

It was 10 years ago when I started college. My birthday has always been around the start of the school year. I remember leaving my family and being left alone in an unfamiliar place. And like most college students, I really had no clue what I wanted to do. I chose a degree in Journalism because my advisor at the time confirmed with me that I would not have to take a math class ever again. This was a very classic college student move because even though I had no clue what I wanted to do with my future, I did know that in the short-term I wanted to take the easiest route possible. I became a ninja at finding the easiest professors and taking classes at my local community college so I did not have to take the harder courses that were held at my university.

These hacks seem relatively harmless and are commonly used by college students. The key, however, is to not allow these hacks to consume your mindset because if you don’t work toward something you will never become something. It is college hacks like these that compound into unemployed college students who understood how to manipulate the system but have no clue how to build a life.

I am 28 years old now and I am grateful to say that I am building a life based off of what I want to do. I run a small education technology company that is making a difference, not just a paycheck. We went from zero in funding to seven figures in revenue. I am an in-demand youth motivational speaker who travels the world. I am visiting 40 high schools this semester from Virginia to Hawaii. I work when I want and with who I want on the things I find most meaningful. I am able to do all of this while sustaining a lifestyle that is compatible to my dreams. I do not have a luxury car or a fancy house but what I do have is my freedom to dream.

This leads me into my final thoughts. If you are 16–28 years old, I believe these are some of the most optimal years of your life when it comes to owning your future and designing what you want your life to look like. I will be documenting tons more about this on future content while on the road this semester but right now I want to give you a north star that will allow you to make better decisions.

Your actions have to have very long term strategy. Like every decision you make in this sweet spot of time should be focused on exponentially succeeding in your 50–60s. I know this sounds crazy because I remember being 18 and thinking 28 was old! But you have to realize that you are going to live a very long time and have 20–40 more healthy years than your grandparents did. During your time right now, you have to be very selfish with the things you want to do and not let anyone take it from you. If you want to make music, start a company, or learn an in-demand skill, you have to keep your freedom to do these things until you are good enough to make a living off these things. Too many 20 year-olds are focused on finding a job making a living rather thank making their dreams work and adapting their living.

You find what you want to do when excitement and passion hit your soul and you realize this is what I have to do. What you do becomes who you are.

Thanks for reading! 🙂

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EJ Carrion

Written by

CEO of Student Success Agency, Top Youth Speaker, and Author of Accelerate Your Success. On a mission to modernize high school so teenagers can own the future.

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