There are so many things that I'd like to write about today. First, I saw this post by an acquaintance of mine who just became a full professor, "I’ve reached the finish line! No more assisting or associating with professors—I am one! A FULL professor! It’s been a tough but incredibly rewarding journey."
Immediately, this poem surfaces in my head, "春风得意马蹄疾，一日看尽长安花" (chūn fēng dé yì mǎ tí jí, yī rì kàn jǐn cháng ān huā), meaning: riding the galloping horse swiftly with spring breeze at my back, I see all the flowers of Chang'an in one single day. The poet of the Tang Dynasty wrote these lines after passing the Imperial Examination. The poem captures the joy, excitement, and exhilaration of achieving success, like riding a galloping horse through the blooming city of Chang'an and enjoying all its beauty in one single day.
Second, yesterday I was going through the notes that I took a few years ago when we interviewed some high achievers among high school and college students.
During the interview of one high achiever who ended up at MIT, a parent asked, "What if you don't know what you should do now?" The interviewee answered, "At this point, I don't know what I want to do in the future. There are still plenty of questions for me to sort out. I think I will be okay if I keep doing what I'm interested in. I might not have the direct route to what I want to do, but the experience that I have on the way is going to be valuable and useful, even if I am not doing what I initially set out to do. What I learn in the process is so valuable to me."
This is perfectly alright if you see life as entering a treasure hunt journey, trying different things and enjoying the process of trying because you don't know exactly what you want to do with your life.
But if you read biographies of famous people, you will notice one thing in common: most of them did not necessarily start from an advantageous position in life; rather, they all began earlier. They all figured out what they wanted to do with their lives at a very young age. I also think of my son who, still a teenager, figured out what he wanted to pursue in his career.
If you have a clear idea of what that final picture looks like and understand where to find the pieces, the rest of the task is like solving a jigsaw puzzle. Every piece helps you get closer to the whole picture. On the other hand, with the treasure hunt, you might spend more time trying different routes.
Time is the biggest asset for young people, especially during their 20s, the most energetic decade of their life. Trying different treasure hunt routes might not be as time efficient as adding jigsaw pieces to your whole picture.
Finally, whether you approach your career and life as a treasure hunt or a jigsaw puzzle, the key is to remain dedicated, curious, and open to learning. Each path has its own rewards and challenges, and having a clear goal and understanding your journey are important toward achieving your own version of success.