Is your work your passion or just a source of income?

Philippines
May 3, 2011 5:14am CST
I am still a student, but I have had three part time jobs. I don't love all of them, but either way I still got these jobs because I need the money. However, once I finish my medical degree I would of course, want to be a doctor and practice medicine. While some people want to be a doctor for the money, I actually want to become a doctor because I think it will be my passion. I specifically want to become a surgeon so then my passion will be cutting people open. Haha. Just kidding. I want to be a doctor because I want to be able to help people and because I would just love to become one. In short, because it is my passion. As for other people, I'm not entirely sure what is more important. So, for you guys, which is more important to consider: your pay or your passion? Keep me posted.
20 responses
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
4 May 11
You can say that because you are not a doctor yet but if you become a doctor someday you will do that because of money. If you say you do that because of passion maybe you can help people free of charge and that a crazy thing if you do it always to all your patients. How can you sustain your needs if you giving your service free to all people? Unless, you are a rich man that you don't need anymore money.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
7 May 11
It means, the bottom line while you rendering your passion you will earn. Am I right?
• Philippines
6 May 11
I can say it because it's what I want. Of course I understand that I need money along the way so it won't just be purely or in majority for the money. Passion is having to do with loving with your work while you're at it. It's not giving free service to people along the way. What I meant by helping people with passion is that you can give service to them while earning and doing something that you want.
@adnileb (5256)
• Philippines
3 May 11
Honestly, I only work for the sake of having an income. I actually don't know what's my passion before. When I was in elementary, I want to be a doctor. Then came high school, I want to be a med.tech. One day, I just woke up afraid of blood and hospital so, my previous passions were failures. I graduated as an Industrial Engineer and I don't like this course either. My classmate wanted it for her and so I took that also for me without knowing what that course is all about. But then, I finished it without shifting to another course. My first job is Quality Engineer, which, fortunately have something to do with my course. Then now, I'm a ship Design Engineer, which obviously, has nothing to do with being an Industrial Eng'r. Hehe... I just got here. And that's it. Until now, I don't like my job. I think my only passion is food. I love to eat.
@adnileb (5256)
• Philippines
4 May 11
Oh, how I wish. Thanks!
• Philippines
4 May 11
Oh, nice story and thanks for sharing your experience! I guess someday you'll find it all out. Just hang in there! :)
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
5 May 11
Unfortunately, mine is just a source of income. I don't think I have found my passion yet.
• Philippines
6 May 11
Well, you still have time to find it out. :) I hope you find it soon. :)
@Porcospino (31367)
• Denmark
3 May 11
Art is my passion. I sell some of my paintings and photomanipulatioons, but I don't sell enough to pay my bills, so I need another source of income (another job) My job isn't that interesting or challenging, but I know how much I earn and that is important, because my husband and I recently bought a house and we have many bills. It would be wonderful to quit my job and spend all of my time on my art, but it is too risky. I don't know how much I am going to earn as my income depend on the things that I am able to sell.
• Philippines
5 May 11
Well at least you can enjoy art while having another job and being able to pay for your bill. :)
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
3 May 11
Hi ohsodianne Of course, passion. I admit that on the first day of my job as a Trainer I hated it, never wanted to be one of those Teachers... but as days passed,teaching became a passion for me. Even today, when I cannot go out on regular work, I am always on the look out of some students who can visit me at my home and keep my passion of teaching alive.
• Philippines
4 May 11
Oh hi thesids! For me, I am partly working as an English tutor online to be able to pay for my dormitory fees. At first, it was all for the money but bit by bit I started to love teaching students. It gives me joy to be able to teach them something new.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
5 May 11
When you start loving the work/job/assignment it turns more of a passion and yes, it may be be paying less but so what you are chasing your passion and that is priceless in itself
• United States
3 May 11
Wow you are thinking right there is nothing more fulfilling then working at something that is your passion while earning well too. This is how I have always wanted it also.
• Philippines
4 May 11
However, not all people can have it this way though. There are times when income becomes more important because after all, money gives us the convenience. I guess if you don't love your job, you just have to learn to do so.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
6 May 11
its really hard to say. but you know what? honestly? it is just now that i am able to work for something i really like, something i have always wanted to do and i am just on my first year so i still don't know whether i would be able to say this is my passion. id be honest again that well for now, i am really after more on the salary i am getting from it... hehe
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
3 May 11
Hi Dianne. I love my work but i cant really say that it is my passion. Music is my passion. And since being a musician here in our country doesnt pay well, i just put music as a hobby.
• Philippines
4 May 11
Hello! I guess that's okay, at least you can still have the best of both worlds at one point. :) I love music too but becoming a doctor is my main goal right now. :) When I become one, it will be my greatest passion.
@dream_ozn (1754)
• Singapore
3 May 11
It depends. I believe that you are a few of the lucky people in this world who is able to work for their passion. There are many people out there who are unable to choose the job that they want, much less say have a passion for it. Many grab a job, upon laerning that it has a high pay. I am currently still a student myself. I have majoring in business. i really admire you because at a young age, you know what is your passion and what you want to do in life. I however, have no clue as to what i want to do in life. For me, the reason i chose to major in business, was because i have no idea what to major in. Even up till now, in my 2nd year of university, i still have no clue as to what do i want to do with my life later on. I currently give tuition as a way to earn some extra money. I don't really have the passion for it, but i still give tuition because i want to save for money.
• Philippines
4 May 11
Hmmm.. I think you just have to hang in there. Along the way, you're bound to find out what it is that you want with life. Meanwhile, enjoy your course and learn from it as much as you can because you'll never know when you may get a good use of it! Don't worry! :)
@DoctorDidi (7018)
• India
6 May 11
I think to every one, work is first a source of income and then only may be a passion.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
3 May 11
let me be ambiguous by just saying it started as one and ended as the other. As to which order it is, I leave it to your imagination and guesses.
• Philippines
4 May 11
Hahaha! You were successful in making your comment ambiguous but I guess it's good either way. Or at least that's what I think so.
3 May 11
For me it has to be my passion and at the same time I'm being paid, you know who wants to work for free, maybe someday in your case when your going to be a doctor you will provide a free services for poor people, right!On the other hand, the status of our economy is crash down I guess we have to be practical you know passion is no longer important just to have a source of income.
• Philippines
3 May 11
Well of course, being paid is also important. I guess I'm just asking because some people take some jobs even if these jobs are not related to their course or their passion. As a result, they end up hating their work but nevertheless continue with it because it's the only way they can make money. Don't get me wrong, I do understand them. :)
• Philippines
3 May 11
in my case at first I really don't like the course that I have there are times that I think of backing out but because I have this personality that once I started something I have to finish it. so as time time goes by I realize that it is not bad at all. and I am working not only for money but because i love my job. hehehe
• Philippines
4 May 11
Oh that's good! a lot of people are like that too! Eventually they start to like and love their job even if at first they didn't. :)
• United States
12 May 11
I think for me passion is more important than pay. I just graduated from college with a BA in Journalism, even though it's hard to find a journalism job and even when you have one it doesn't pay very well at all. My boyfriend, too, is going to college for a degree that won't get him much money -- teaching and art. The retail store I work for pays their managers a lot, and now that I have a degree they want me to go into management, but I'd rather make less money and be happy than make as much as they do but be miserable.
• Philippines
3 May 11
earning while doing something you love is definitely a plus factor. one without the other will pose some problems after a while. doing something just for the money would likely lose its appeal once the challenge is gone or work becomes monotonous and no fun injected. however doing something you love or passionate about but not substantial enough (financially) to keep you fed and clothed or keep you warm at nights... would take its toll after a while too. after several years working in non-government organizations helping out the poor sector in the microfinance arena, i shifted to working in a network marketing business off our home base. this is where my feet brought me and my passion as well. it feels great to be able to provide solutions for a sick person to get better and for the unemployed to have a source of income. i have longer hours for myself and my family and i could have vacations anytime. something i wasn't able to do while employed.
@SimpleBB (1329)
• Philippines
3 May 11
Actually, most people falls into work which is against their passion for so many reasons....poverty. Though they want to have a better degree but due to scarcity, they could not obtain that goal. Lucky those who were able to achieve what they really want that could say that it is their passion. For me, I would say, no one wants to be left behind or not to be what they want to be. It's just that probably this is what is for us. So in working, if even it is not my passion, since it is my source of living, I would love that work. In such cases, it would inspires me and soon would be my passion if I would get used and enjoy doing my work. If I could not be of what I want to be, I would accept it for I know it is what I have to live. Some reasons why people get tired of their work that makes them bored is because they keep on living in the frustration for not having their ultime dream career or yes..their passion. For me, it is more to be productive rather than idle and doing nothing. Happy mylotting.
@allknowing (130088)
• India
4 May 11
When one starts on a career path anything that comes by is grabbed as one has no choice desperately wanting to get some experience. At this phase in my life I did go through rough waters. Later I did settle down to a job that more or less gave me satisfaction and money too. After a while any job becomes stale and it was at this time that I gave up my lucrative job to start my own business, a business that was connected with my hobby, and this was the best part of my working life.
@LadyDD (515)
• Romania
4 May 11
Good for you to choose your career of surgeon out of passion! I also chosen my job because I had a passion for it. I believe that where there is no passion for the work of a job then the work is not so satisfactory. And after some time the job becomes annoying. Of course there are jobs I had to do for money in the past but I have my actual job out of the passion for it since I was young.
@sweet_pea (3322)
• Philippines
6 May 11
Honestly I see my work as a source of income rather than a passion. It helps to pay the bills and support my son’s education. If I have my way I’d rather be a stay at home mom with a part time business to attend to. I think if I was passionate about my work I wouldn’t see myself dragging myself up early in the morning to go to the office. But in fairness I like what I’m doing right now but it doesn’t mean I am passionate about it. I hope we could save enough to start our business soon.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
4 May 11
I think, i haven't discovered what my passion is until i have my job at present. Because i had had 3 jobs before this, i can finally say that what i have now is my passion. . .oral and verbal communications , dealing with different people and entertaining them in an official way. I have never enjoyed a job like this before.