What are my interests, passions, and values?

“If you want to be successful in a particular field of endeavor it's very important that you find something that you care about, that you have a deep passion for, because you're going to have to devote a lot of your life to it.” ~George Lucas, American Filmmaker

It is important to ask yourself the question: What do I want to do with my life? One of the best ways to begin to answer this big question is to explore what you are interested in, what your strengths are, what values you believe in, and what you are passionate about. What do you know about the world of work? What career fields—if any—are you drawn to? At any stage of your college career, understanding these areas helps you purposefully make decisions about what classes to take, where to spend your free time, and how to begin to chart the steps in your career journey.

Taking the time to define your interests, passions, and values early in your college career will help you begin to answer two of the most important career-related questions: What will I major in? and What will I do with my major?

Need help getting started? Begin to explore any of the GVSU career resources listed below:

Attend career-related events through the Career Center and the Counseling and Career Development Center that will help you to discover what you love doing now and what you can see yourself doing in the future.

Use Focus II: Online Career Assessment and Career Information Resource.
- Specifically, use the personality, interests, and values assessment sections.

Attend the Majors Fair held each fall to hear directly from faculty about GVSU programs you might consider pursuing.

Sign-up for US 102: A one-credit career exploration course that will help guide you along career and academic pathways, from choosing a major to building a career action plan.

Meet with a career counselor to discuss personalized ways for discovering your interests, passions, and values.

Talk with an academic advisor, member of the housing and residence life staff, or professor from one of your classes about what you enjoy and what you’re interested in – the people in your life can provide great insight.

Explore Service Learning Opportunities at the Community Service Learning Center.

Find Student Groups and Organizations that match your interests, passions, and values.

Page last modified September 27, 2012