It wasn’t too long ago that I was a little child, ignorant of social constructs and societal expectations- who found joy in things that truly enriched my soul. Today, I skim through mental checklists while evaluating potential careers for myself, on which ‘joy’ falls surprisingly low. I find it saddening that society constricts us in a way that fools us into chasing monetary benefit and blinding us off of our childhood dreams and aspirations. Such bleak truths, however, fade upon making the joyous realization that passion begins at early adolescence, or even earlier. Each school has a little girl who has a beautiful obsession I have grown up with cousins who used to conduct pretend check-ups with their toy stethoscopes on whomever they could; I have also watched them graduate medical school with flying colors. I’ve had friends who were hooked onto the idea of the sun, the stars, the moon and all else space; and sure enough, they discovered an exceptional enthusiasm for astrophysics in their twenties. Of course, there are those who lose sight of their passion- but that is because they look everywhere but within themselves! This is why it is necessary to give children the freedom to explore. As theorized by renowned Swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget, children aged 10 and below must get all the exposure they can, because that is how they develop a sound sense of the world and themselves. Now, whenever I feel lost of purpose, I look back. I recall those core memories that stuck with me through all these arduous years. Each psychometric test I give, provides a glimpse into my past, and everything that clung to me till the present. And hence, I truly believe that the best advice one can take to flourish in their careers, is to build one that would absolutely enthrall their little 8-year old selves!