Do What You Love

By Grace Carballo ‘17

Some say do what you love and you’ll never work in your life.

Others like to take it farther and ruin things by adding “because that field probably isn’t hiring.” 

Usually about this point I interject and tell them how Global Studies is an up- and-coming field and literally the entire world is my oyster, but that’s not the direction I’m heading with this post.

As finals begin to affect your sleep schedule and maybe even your hygiene, I want to encourage you to take a short, well-deserved break to ask yourself why you’re doing all this in the first place. 

Because there’s nothing like a purpose to keep you up all night, it’s the original coffee.

I’ve been through my fair share of finals, all of which have been traumatizing and formative in their own way, but this semester was different because I was studying abroad in Managua, Nicaragua. It was a rigorous academic program through School for International Training (SIT) all of which ended in a month-long Independent Study Project (ISP).

It is by far the most hours and effort I’ve ever put into an assignment and probably the proudest I’ve ever felt of myself, trumping all my prior triumphs in the face of adversity, including both running a marathon and the Green Trails block party pudding eating contest. 

But for perhaps the first time in my academic career I put in all these hours without worrying about the grade. (Courses taken abroad through non-USC programs transfer back as pass/fail credits).

I observed and interviewed representatives of women’s organizations in Managua and Matagalpa to see the ways in which they are changing the sexist societal norms that perpetuate violence against women. I’ll never forget their innovative approaches and unbelievable dedication and it inspired me to work that much harder putting the paper together.

So many people helped me in the process and I promised each of them a copy of the finished product. For the first time in a long time, I was driven not by my GPA or my professors’ perceptions, but by my genuine investment in the project and more importantly, my hope to give some semblance of reciprocity to the amazing women who gave me so much time and information.

I worked more than I’ve ever worked to prepare for any other exam or essay; and my classmates did the same on their respective projects. For a gal with a weakness for distractions, particularly social media, my focus game was strong.  On Thanksgiving, I took a short break to Facetime my family and then was back to the books. It was a slow process, I’ve never claimed to be great at academic writing or writing in Spanish and this was a double-whammy, but I finished. And you can, too!

When your mind starts to get a little fuzzy and your eyes no longer open fully, remember why you’re doing all this in the first place. It’s about more than the grades and the numbers, although those sure are emphasized by this highly competitive society we find ourselves in - (don’t let them change you). It’s about whatever inspired you to choose these courses or this major and it’s about what you’re going to do with this knowledge and degree to make the world better when all this is said and done.

As I learned in cross-country in high school (the glory days), 

Pain is temporary, pride lasts forever. 

and just as importantly-

Your best is ALWAYS good enough.

May your finals be merry and bright, and may all your educated guesses be right.

- Grace 

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