Role of Passion in Career Choices of University Students: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

Passion is one of the less studied but widely accepted constructs which certainly plays a pivotal role in an individual’s life. In the Indian culture, society gives a higher position to academic career over career based solely on arts. The current study adopts a mixed-method approach using descriptive statistics, interviews, and reflective journals on 124 university students in the age group of 18-28 years. The results suggest that choosing a career is a complex process involving external as well as internal forces like parental influences, personal choices, and interests as well as readiness to take risks. Additionally, students who are aware of their passion and have chosen it as a full-time career showed more meaningfulness, satisfaction, and fulfilment while others who have chosen different careers displayed frustration, dissatisfaction, and feel a sense of vacuum in their world of passion.