I didn’t know you could have both

Why do we often think that passion and career can’t exist in the same space?

It is a question that always lingers, especially when you hear people say they had to let go of what they have always been passionate about. Most of them chose practicality–because it made more sense, because it was the safer path, because they had families to think of.

Later on, they try to convince themselves that they love what they’re doing now. And maybe they do. Maybe somewhere along the way, they’ve found comfort and fulfillment in it. But here’s the thing: there’s always a difference between something you’ve always loved and something you’ve learned to love.

Innate passion is the kind of love that comes naturally—no explanations needed. It has been with you since you were a child, those silly little things you’ve always been drawn to, even before you knew how or why. It shows up in every doodle you made, every roleplay game you played, every fantasy that lived rent-free in your head.

Learned passion is different; on the other hand, it is something that grows slowly. It is something you develop over time through effort, through adapting, through necessity. And for those who chose a “practical” career over their true passion, this is often what happens–they learn to love what they do. Maybe not because it was their first choice, but because they had to make it work.

This reality hits hard for many college students. At a young age, we’re expected to make decisions that shape the rest of our lives. And one of the hardest decisions is choosing between passion and career.

In the Philippines, the pressure gets even heavier. There are so many beliefs that treat certain passions, like those in the arts and literature, as if they’re not valid careers. And the sad truth is, a lot of jobs here don’t pay well. To make things worse, society doesn’t exactly appreciate those who pursue what they love bravely.

Unfortunately, I’m living like this. Writing has always been my first love. I grew up dreaming that someday I would be a world-renowned writer.

I still remember the first time I held a newspaper. The smell of ink and feeling the paper sparked something in me. I didn’t fully understand it back then, but I knew—this was what I wanted.

But even with all that passion, I started thinking, maybe it is not practical. Maybe my dreams were too big and unrealistic. So I tucked that dream away quietly.

My passion and love for writing were simple and certain–something I’m so sure of leaving behind. But as I entered high school, that passion grew into something even bigger, branching out into many directions. I was exposed to new experiences that I wanted to become many things.

Interestingly, the idea of becoming a nurse was something I only said when people asked what I wanted to be. It wasn’t something I was particularly passionate about—it was just something that seemed right, the most acceptable answer out of all those I’ve always longed for.

And so I chose nursing. In time, I began to convince myself that this was the right choice. I love what I’m doing. And to a certain degree, the theory holds true–when we repeat something very often, we begin to believe it.

I did learn to love nursing. I found meaning in it. But deep within, I knew that this love would never compare to the passion I’ve always had for writing.

What complicated this further was the fact that I never truly stopped chasing that passion. Even while studying nursing, I kept writing. I continued searching for ways to stay connected to the world I once dreamed of.

After losing in the Regional Schools Press Conference 2024, I thought that was the end of my journey as a campus journalist. But life had different plans. Shortly after this rejection, I was accepted into a media organization I had long admired. For someone who felt they had left writing behind, this opportunity felt like coming home.

Nursing is difficult. The concepts are complex, and even pronouncing the medical terms can be overwhelming. But being part of that organization gave me something else entirely. It became a space where I could breathe—a gentle reminder that my passion still had a place in my life.

It was then that I realized: I never truly let go of writing. Even while pursuing a different career path, I still had it to keep that part of myself alive.

We’re often told that passion and career must be two separate choices. That we must sacrifice one for the other. But the truth is, they can coexist. It may not be easy, and the balance might not always be perfect, but it is possible.

You never have to choose between passion and career. Because passion, when real, never truly disappears. It stays with us quietly, patiently–waiting for the moment we are ready to embrace it again.

I didn’t know I could have both, not until I had them.

—————–

Jamayka Rhose Rafael Pascual, 18, is a freshman from Tarlac Province studying nursing and is a writer for Explained PH.