Why Settle When Deciding Your Career?

Ahmad Yusuf 

Do you enjoy your everyday job? Do you dread waking up every morning taking the same route, filing the same paperwork, sitting in the same office, listening to the same miserable co-workers’ day in, day out?  It’s a trap and you may think you aren’t in it, but you are.

We are dropped into a one size fits all educational institution, thrown out into the world without having learnt beneficial information to help us get through the untold aspects of life, only to learn you must go into another institution to be qualified to work. You remain in that position for the rest of your life until you retire at the age of 67. At that stage, with the average life expectancy being 82 years as estimated by scientists, the remaining time left to live is only 15 years. When that time to live comes unfortunately, most are too old and exhausted from their 67 years of work. So, instead of actually living, you count the days left on this earth while drowning in regret and unused imagination. 

None of us want that. We want opportunities to be the best Muslims we can be, see the world, explore the depths of our creativity and simply have fun with our family and friends whilst simultaneously ‘working’. So, do not go into a profession pressured by society's expectations. Rather, step into a profession fueled by passion. At the end of the day, no one else is going to wake up and head into work for you. So why should anyone else decide what you do as a career for the rest of your life?

Art by Hannah (@amiriart) as part of Art For Yemen Auction