Passion of the Career free essay sample

Passion of the Career Steve Pavlina, a self-help author, once said, â€Å"Passion and purpose go hand in hand. When you discover your purpose, you will normally find it’s something you’re tremendously passionate about. † In the article â€Å"Follow a Career Passion? Let It Follow You,† Cal Newport shares his experiences of how he came to the conclusion of his career by letting traits lead to what he loves about his work and not necessarily passion. He points out that in high school students are encouraged to follow their passion, but then comes the problem of not quite having an idea of one specific passion. The concept of having a certain passion can be quite intimidating and even leads to some people doubting if they really are in the right place once decided. When Newport considers his options he doesn’t want to focus on his passion but rather traits that he acquires like holding that sense of feeling knowing he is where he is supposed to be. We will write a custom essay sample on Passion of the Career or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I agree with Newport to a certain extent. I think that you start with a small passion and that passion continues to grow with time. My own career passion involves a major in Communications as well as an associate degree in American Sign Language and I know that as long as I strive for success and don’t give up through the difficult times I can accomplish this. ASL has fascinated me since the first time I remember seeing a person sign. ASL is an intricate language that started in 1814 with Dr. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet. Gallaudet had a nine year old daughter who was deaf and because of his determination, he and a few others were able to start the first deaf school in the United States. Gallaudet had a passion for life, family, and friends so as he began to learn more and more about this language, so did his passion. Newport advises that, â€Å"Passion is not something you follow. It’s something that will follow you as you put in the hard work to become valuable to the world. † Indeed Gallaudet did just this and helped start something that thousands have benefited from and continue to today. ASL is now the third most common language in the US. Passion in this case was slowly accommodated and started with a person who simply enjoyed helping others and was able to put that to use in a way that not only aided his daughter but thousands of people as well. An interpreter for ASL has one main responsibility which is to make sure the deaf or hearing impaired individuals are able to grasp every piece of information the speaker is saying. This may sound easy but an interpreter must not only listen to what the speaker is saying, but also sign it back at practically the same time which can be difficult to keep up with. A sign language interpreter can be used in a variety of situations. For instance, many interpreters work for schools, hospitals and government agencies. Like most jobs, becoming an ASL interpreter takes a unique person, one who has good memory, is an outgoing person who enjoys talking to others, and is not afraid to speak out. Interpreters are the voices for those cannot speak for themselves, therefore it is imperative for an interpreter to convey ideas and feelings exactly how they were meant. In an article â€Å"IMA life,† Noel Fairbanks, a plant controller in San Antonio, Texas, writes â€Å"†¦love what you do, work hard to make a difference, become a subject matter expert in your field, surround yourself with supportive family and friends, and maintain a passion for lifelong learning. † Fairbanks reminds the reader of the obvious characteristics to portray when in a career but she closes with and important statement about passion. Fairbanks conveys an idea that there can always be passion withheld in a job as long as one continues to look for opportunities to learn throughout life. As an interpreter, passion continues to grow in life as new faces are seen, relationships begin to grow, and stories of the deaf are heard. There are many tasks and responsibility that an interpreter must overcome but with passion, all of these duties become possible. When becoming an interpreter it can be accomplished in a simple manner as long as the correct steps are taken. Some colleges offer ASL programs as a foreign language option. This allows students to get a degree in English, communications or a related field, while also getting the necessary training in ASL. Students may also earn an associate or bachelors degree in ASL or sign language interpreting. As for me I will be getting my associates degree in American Sign Language and then transferring to a university to major in Communications. While at a university I am planning on going to a private institute strictly for American Sign Language, that way I can become fluent in sign language as well as have a degree in Communications to expand my choice of careers. Becoming an interpreter can take a lot of schooling but with determination and passion it can be enjoyable and will be well worth it when finished. In an article â€Å"Leading with Purpose and Passion,† Steve Lacroix states that â€Å"This [career choice] is the passion that motivates you and compels you to lead with zeal and excitement in spite of all the challenges you encounter everyday†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Working up to becoming an interpreter can be difficult but quite possible when attaining passion. Newport also states that, â€Å"Passion is not something you follow. It’s something that will follow you as you put in the hard work to become valuable to the world. † Both authors conclude that passion plays an important role in a career, an individual can start with passion but that passion can also progress as the one continues to pursue that career. An ASL interpreter contributes to the world in many great ways. Other than lacking the ability to hear, individuals who are deaf are the same as one who can hear, thus making interpreting a huge role in the scheme of society. Interpreters give hearing impaired individuals the opportunity to ability to participate and almost any activity they desire. For instance, when I was in high school I had a friend named Derrick who was and he was able to attend my high school because he had a personal interpreter that attended all his classes with him. The interpreter gave Derrick the chance to receive an education in the public school system instead of a school for only the deaf impaired. In turn if I become an interpreter I will contribute to the greater good of society by giving the deaf a voice and helping them to understand and learn about everything the world has to offer whether I interpret for children and help them receive and education or be an aid to the ill in hospitals. I agree with Newport and his idea about passion but I also think that one starts with a small passion and that passion continues to grow with time. My own career passion involves a major in Communications as well as an associate degree in American Sign Language and I know that as long as I strive for success and don’t give up through the difficult times I can accomplish this.