Letter from GEN X to GEN Z: Learning how to RESEARCH YOU

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 Letter from GEN X to GEN Z:  Learning how to RESEARCH YOU


When I graduated from College, I didn’t have a CLUE!  It was 1991.   Computers were fairly new (Not


everyone had one).   There were no laptops or tablets.  Smart phones were not here.  Cell Phones were here (they were big enough to knock someone in the head).   I had just graduated with a degree in Biology but I wasn’t going to Medical School.  I was 21 years old.  I knew what I was going to do next.  I had a summer job lined up.  I was going to Officers Basic Course for the Army in the fall for 5 months.   But after that, I didn’t have a clue.  


Back then, there was no “Monster.com” or “Indeed.Com” or ‘Linkedin’.   There was no facebook, twitter, or IG.   E-mail was becoming a new thing at the time.   It didn’t mater because I still didn’t have a clue.


When I was done with my Summer job and my military commitment, I was back to square one of not having a clue.  I was now in the position like a lot of college graduates.  I was just trying to find a job.  I wasn’t trying to find the perfect job.  I wasn’t trying to find the job of my dreams.  I didn’t even know what the ‘job of my dreams’ looked like.  I just wanted a job.  


When I got my first job working for the State as a Safety and Health Specialist, I was lucky because my supervisor had a Masters in Chemistry.  He was another science major.  I say ‘lucky’ because he was the first person to ask me “What do you want to do with your LIFE?”


When someone asks you that question growing up, what does that even mean?  You’ve only been in the world a few years.  You barely have an idea of what life is.   And it gets worse when you graduate from college or boot camp or technical school.  For some odd reason, there is this believe that now that you are a little older and you have been through some things, you now have it all figured out.


You don’t and that’s ok.  


Looking back, I realized the most important thing my former supervisor did for me was NOT asking me “What do you want to do with my life”.  The important thing was the follow up.  When I told him that I wanted to go graduate school and get a Masters Degree and maybe a PhD in Cellular Biology, he asked me one simple question:


WHY?


I gave him a response that I wanted to get my Masters and PhD and I thought I could put that degree to use.  He then asked me if I wanted to work in a lab all of my life. I answered ‘NO’.  So, he started asking me other questions:


  1. Do you like the sciences?  Yes

  2. Do you like research and investigation? Yes

  3. Do you like interacting with people?  Yes

  4. Do you traveling? Yes


At that point, he suggested I look into a degree in Public Health with a specific emphasis on Industrial Hygiene.  Now, I had never heard of that degree but when I researched it, it really caught my attention.  It focused on chemicals.  It focused on biological agents.  It focused on things like noise and heat.  It focused on sick buildings. It truly satisfied my science desire and gave me the chance to use my science background for practical purposes. 


When someone asks you what you are going to do with your life, it’s ok if you don’t know.   Just remember that you have the power to decide.  


And in order to learn HOW to do decide, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What do you want to DO in your life time?

  2. Where do you want to DO what you DO in your life?

  3. What do you enjoy doing? (And be specific about WHY you like doing what you like)

  4. If you could get paid for doing something you love, what would it be?

  5. If you had all the money you could ever want, what would you do?

  6. What are you passionate about?


And the most important to thing is, ASK someone to help you with these questions.  Ask a good friend.  Ask your parents.  Ask your siblings.  Ask your mentors.  Write it all down.   Don’t fall into the trap of being who you THINK you should be.  Don’t fall into the trap of being who you THINK others expect you to be.   Use this time to research who you WANT to be and what you need to do to make that happen. 


And don’t do it once.  Several times during your life, ask yourself these questions.  You got a big world in front of you.  Research where you would like to fit in it.


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