Finding My Passion; A Journey that Never Ends
"Follow your passion, and you will never work a day in your life." I don't know who originally said this, but when I first read it, I couldn't help but ask myself: "What is my passion, really?" I found myself passionate about many things, from art to culture to food to people. Almost anything could excite me, whether it was a beautiful piece of art, watching the undersea world on Blue Planet II on Netflix, trying out a raw cake recipe, admiring a well-architected building, taking deep breaths in the middle of a rainforest, enjoying a walk through Hobby Lobby aisles, or sitting on a Zaisu while designing my Ikebana on a small Chabudai.
What could be my passion? Perhaps this question led me to study journalism after high school. Journalism was fun, engaging, diverse, and, more importantly, satisfied my curiosity about everything. As a journalist, I could explore any topic that interested me and take on roles like photojournalist, food critic, or even anchor.
After entering this field, I found myself gravitating towards environment and conservation. I covered environmental news and events, conducted interviews with biologists, wrote reports about endangered species, talked to ecologists and environmental activists, and searched for green initiatives worldwide to inspire my audience to care more for the planet. These experiences allowed me to meet new people and discover new places.
Now, I consider myself an observer and learner, incorporating what I learn into my work. Yet, I still feel I don't have a clear understanding of my true passion. Sometimes, I think I need to be more creative to improve professionally. A significant part of my career is built on my insights, observations, and the stories of the people I work with, writing anecdotes and telling stories to inspire others to engage more in their civic life. For me, this is a work in progress.