Making a 180 Seem Like a Good Decision to Parents

This post was originally published November 3, 2013.

Yes, I did. I turned a sudden 180 in the direction of my life. The phone calls to my parents: my dad was surprisingly ecstatic; my mom was shocked.

What I did doesn’t matter.

Just kidding. About 75% of you will go, “Well, duh, I could have told him that.” The other 25%, I’m sure, will not disagree with my decision. Here it is: I decided to drop my pursuits for masters’ in Applied Statistics and Financial Economics. The former, permanently, the latter… maybe delayed. My reason for the change is the object of this blog.

Let me frame my efforts over the past few months. I wanted to develop a technical skill in statistics to build up competence in business analytics. More like mathematical optimization than Pivot tables. For those that know me well, you would not say I have the personality for this intense individual-contribution in a work environment. Even I would have said that. It was an interest of mine; I did not actually want to become a statistician. I want to be a data-driven people leader. So, I enveloped my philosophy with the intersection of data, business and social responsibility in my personal statement for a highly prestigious scholarship. For months, I breathed this pursuit. I even added another minor to my preexisting double major and minor.

Consider those who are pursuing this degree. They likely have both math and statistics majors, with years of experience demonstrating the particular traits needed for this career. They are likely introverts and are fiercely detail oriented.

Consider me. Business major. Mostly extroverted. I have spent the last 4 years cultivating leadership ability, not technical ability. The details are painful to me, I like the big strategic picture.

Subconsciously, I have known this for months. Throw in some poor assumptions about the depth of mathematics courses and a desire for the laurels of a prestigious grad school, something is bound to break. Something felt wrong, especially after my application for the scholarship was denied, so I was begging God to understand where I need to be in a year’s time, with April graduation, an expected internship somewhere in the world and then grad school. Really, really expensive grad school.

The final sledgehammer that God used to break into my world was being pulled taught between two majors and two minors. I was the jack of all trades, master of none. I had made what was merely an interest (albeit, substantial) into a passion. And the whole dependence on Christ came clear… God is wonderfully perfect. But I have too many weaknesses for which to compensate. I cannot feasibly separate myself into four different areas of strengths and personalities demanded by two majors and two minors. I need to prune my areas of weakness, and desperately build my strengths. Each piece of the body of Christ is not of all functions. And so I dropped the two minors. And seven credits from 17. And a weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Now, ever more critical to me is the importance of being surrounded by highly skilled people of extraordinary character, yet, with different skills than my own. But as for me in the next year, I’m going to passionately develop my strength of leadership. Next step, God willing, is a leadership development rotation at a large firm. Right now, I have more time to dedicate to the teams I lead, growing into the exceptional leader I believe God has called me to be.

So, if you want to make a sudden lifestyle change seem like a good decision to parents, have clear direction from God and a vision of the necessity for who God really is calling you to be. It’s that simple. Not the answer you were looking for, I’m sure, but, man alive, I’m going to be reaping the benefits of a well-found path for years to come.