Stay thirsty, my friends

“When I grow up, I want to be a…”
Since the very first time I finished that sentence in kindergarten, my answer has changed again and again. In 2001, I wrote, “pet shop,” (I actually m­­­­­­­eant veterinarian) and in the years that followed, I’ve aspired to become a ninja, an engineer, a pediatrician, a journalist and a few other things I can’t really remember.
Currently, though, the last part of that sentence is blank. Even now as I’m about to graduate from high school and become a UC Berkeley golden bear, I’m not sure what kind of career I’d like to have “when I grow up.” I’m a tentative environmental sciences major, but, given my history, that’ll probably change. In this sense, I realize that I’ve already strayed far from my peers.
Unlike many others in the Class of 2014, I haven’t planned much beyond the realm of my undergraduate studies. Despite pressure from mentors, friends and family members, I haven’t mapped out the way to medical school, law school or any kind of graduate school, and I’m not even sure what sort of classes I’d like to take during my freshman year at Cal.
But I’m indecisive because I’m thirsty, and, please, let me clarify that statement.
Underclassmen, I can’t offer you any terribly poignant or remarkable pieces of advice because, after all, I’m only 17 and just a tad older than you. I can’t reassure you that everything will work out in the end or that what’s left of your high school career will be spectacular. I can only tell you what’s worked for me. So, in the words of the ever-wise Dos Equis guy, words that I’ve lived by for the past four years, “Stay thirsty, my friends.” But not for alcohol. Stay away from that stuff until you’re at least 21.
What I mean by that is, never stop being ambitious. Stay thirsty for success, stay thirsty for the future and stay thirsty for change, and honestly, in my opinion, that’s all you have to do to have a fulfilling high school experience.
I didn’t exactly plan on joining Rampage my freshman year, let alone anticipate that I’d become editor-in-chief senior year. I didn’t plan on starting a club, traveling to Germany, teaching English to kids in Taiwan or landing a journalism internship.  But as a freshman at the start of my high school career, I resolved to simply pursue my passions. And although I’m not the traditional picture of success: an awkward Asian girl who doesn’t play an instrument (I failed miserably at the piano and guitar), isn’t great at math and physics, has horrible penmanship and doesn’t want to go into medicine, I never let the fire inside of me burn out and I participated in everything that piqued my interest.
I may not know what I want to do with my life right now, but indecision isn’t necessarily a bad quality. I can’t settle on any one career not because I’m lacking in dreams but because I have too many dreams, and I suspect that I’m not the only one in this situation.
I want to improve people’s lives, help the environment recover from years of abuse, introduce cats and dogs to loving homes, make the world a better place and make a friend from every country. And because I haven’t yet heard of a job that includes all of those things, I’m hesitant to select just one.
So, freshmen, sophomores and juniors, at this point, I can only encourage you to be thirsty, whether you’re determined to become a mechanical engineer or lawyer, or you’re like me and still exploring various options and fields of study. Set goals and have dreams, but don’t let those dreams limit you. Keep an open mind and live without regrets, and above all, don’t be intimidated by all the opportunities in front of you. Take advantage of every single one.