In the last few years, I have contemplated careers ranging from a brain surgeon to a riverboat captain. I have only a few short months before it is time for me to get a “real job” and I am a little scared of the prospect. I think the question of what to do after graduation is frustrating to a lot of people.

From the time we are young, we are encouraged to “follow our dreams.” What if you don’t really have “dreams,” just inane ideas that got in your head through the influence of something you saw on TV or what someone impressed on you in a vulnerable moment?

I once thought being an FBI agent might be the life for me until I stumbled into a one-time assignment as a private eye. The experience made me realize that, by nature, I am a bad liar and too conspicuous to be a professional investigator.

During freshman year, I was scared by stories of starving journalists and decided I should pursue a more lucrative career in dentistry. I even had my courses reviewed so I could change my major to biology. After further consideration, I eventually decided that since blood, other people’s teeth and those rubber gloves kind of freak me out, I would not be a good dentist either.

On a whim this summer, I applied for a position as an intern at a hedge fund management company. I ended up really enjoying it. After spending my previous summer in a construction job, I thought that the adjustment to office life would be difficult. There were times that I longed to be outside instead of looking out windows, but overall it agreed with me.

I have started applying for and interviewing for jobs, but the future is still pretty open. I have yet to make a decision between working in corporate finance or as a freelance journalist in a kayak.

Perhaps we put too much emphasis on finding the perfect career. I think we are often surprised about what work we end up enjoying.