19 May 2020

From the get-go, we’ve been raised to believe that our main goal in life is to earn enough money to be comfortable. When we’re young, we’re asked ‘what would you like to do when you grow up?’

It’s a question that’s been asked a hundred times by teachers and distant family members at Christmas lunches. Our answer should immediately be what we could see ourselves doing for the rest of our lives with no qualms.

It may drift towards producing some music for some of the biggest names in the industry, write some of the world’s wildest crime stories or chase winter forever as an instructor or resort staff at only the sickest of mountains. It’s endless.

But the amount of times our answers have been shot down by naysayers is far too many, simply because our desired career path might not have a lot of money in it. We’re being ‘unrealistic,’ according to them at least.

As a result, we switch to a career path that is safer, jobs that will bring in a paycheque each week and hope that we’ll have free time outside the 9 to 5 grind to actually enjoy ourselves.

But that’s not living. That’s doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on living. Take it from someone who had a passion but refused to chase it because they were scared of failing or having no income that was somewhat ‘stable’.

Two years down the track and I’ve not looked back. I ditched my comfortable (albeit, boring af) job in a law firm and landed a gig right here (yep, at Year13) doing what I love the most - writing and creating. And to be honest, I won’t ever regret chasing my passions.

When you begin to chase your passion, your life changes tenfold. You’re finally doing something that you love. Whether that be designing graphics for events or animating a music video for your mates’ new band, every day you are growing your skills and owning your creativity.

And when you start to get into the groove of your own thing, everything else falls into place. You begin to meet like-minded people who immediately get you. Opportunities you dreamed of open up for you to thrive. People around you feel inspired by you because you’re doing something so authentic to you. And with time, your family will come around and realise how much it means to you to do what you love.

But where on earth do you begin on the journey towards your passion? Well, we’re hosting our very own digital careers expo called the Year13 Expo where you’ll be able to explore your post-school options to decipher what career path is right for you.

Our mates at JMC Academy will be at the Year13 Expo and they’re all about developing your passion and discovering a rewarding and meaningful career. JMC Academy offer a bunch of creative degrees in:

  • Music
  • Entertainment Business
  • Audio Engineering
  • Digital Design
  • Animation
  • Game Development
  • Film and Television
  • Songwriting

 

You can turn your love for movies into a career with a degree in Film & Television Production, put together your dream festival line-up with a course in Entertainment Business Management or score a masterpiece soundtrack for a video game with a degree in Audio Engineering & Sound Production.

If you’re looking for a push in the right direction or a sign to tell you to get on out there after school and chase your passions, this is it. JMC Academy will have a booth at the Year13 Expo where you can suss out courses, degrees and talk about all the practical experience and industry connections you’ll pick up along the way. Check it out here.