Who knows?

(Photo by Deb Gumbley)

Who knows at age 18 what he/she wants to do in life? I have a friend that age who is struggling to make a decision regarding his future, perhaps complicated by wanting—if he really had his druthers—to be a guitar star.

Who knows at age 22 or 23? I was thinking about this Sunday when our basketball seniors were telling us what they planned for their future. They related a wide range of certainty, from detailed thought and interest in an ultimate profession to short-term hopes for the next year.

Last year Krista said she wants to be a pediatrician with a sub-specialty in oncology, and Ezzi wants to open her own doctor’s office. That’s pretty specific! This year Kish wants to be a lawyer; Brooke in a medical field; Kristen doesn’t know but will probably go back to school after a year playing professional basketball. While Clare doesn’t describe a career objective, she has options for next year. Objectives less defined.

What did I think I’d be doing when I was 23? I didn’t know a bit better than Clare or New. I took a job, saw it would be a dead end and decided to go back to school. And even then, I don’t believe that I had a plan for what to do with the forthcoming graduate degree.

Interests crystallize or change, so today’s decision isn’t permanent anyway. Remember Kate Paye’s dual graduate degree, only to be tossed aside to coach basketball? Or, Charmin’s engineering degrees? Knowledge and training are not wasted, even if they primarily apply to a career no longer of interest. Kate Starbird has stuck with computer programming, but found a different way to use her skill.

Life works out—opportunities arise. My young guitar-playing friend will sort out his best options soon. And I know our Stanford student-athletes will have productive and successful lives. It will be fun to see where life takes them.