If Emory University had a wrapped feature similar to Spotify, my experiences would be genre-defying. My Emory Wrapped would read, “Five different majors chosen, 25 classes swapped during Add/Drop/Swap and you are in the top 0.01% of users for Rate My Professor, with over 500 late-night searches.” While it is funny to reflect on the chaos of registration and 2 a.m. existential crises about major selection, these statistics truly capture my relentless search for passion, purpose and something that just feels right during my time at Emory. Like many other students, my indecisiveness is a result of dreaming in varying directions. We have imagined ourselves pursuing multiple paths, each one fueled by a different passion, interest or sense of purpose.
When I committed to Emory, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer. After the staggering amount of reading required for my introductory philosophy class, I quickly realized that law school was a dream that had to die. I was no longer rigid in wanting to only take classes that would prepare me for law school. Instead, I was eager to explore Emory’s academic offerings with a new receptiveness to various fields of study. From “Intermediate Microeconomics” to the Latin American, Latinx and Caribbean Studies class “Visitor Meets Native” and the religion department’s “Human Goodness,” I loved taking such divergent classes and seeing the ways in which seemingly disparate courses overlapped. This helped me understand that the questions I cared about regarding equity and legal influence were not confined to courtrooms or legal briefs, but were equally alive in other fields like economics and religion. By taking my General Education Requirements across multiple disciplines, I forged my own path of exploration. Emory became a vantage point for me to see the prudence of every dream I could conjure. This perspective allowed me to fully appreciate the most beautiful fact about dreams: They can change. Imagine if every one of us had stuck with our first dream: The world would be overrun with astronauts, princesses, firefighters, jedis and spy kids.
Whether or not you achieved the childhood dreams you had, that is not the end. What is perceived to be failure can be a catalyst for profound reinvention. Through disappointment, you gain clarity on your next steps, leading to conviction and true originality. But, more importantly, if you achieve your dream, this does not make you a winner. I learned this firsthand when I received a corporate analyst internship offer from J.P. Morgan. A grand opportunity by many measures, but within three days of starting the program, I called my mom and said dramatically, “My spirit is broken. Get me out of here.” This was the dream job offer that I once vehemently wanted. However, this opportunity did not align with my personal interests. It lacked the ingenuity that I was looking for in work. Even though I achieved this goal, I was not a winner, victor or champion. I was only at a new starting line, standing face-to-face with the hard truth that dreams can evolve — and so must we.
As we grow up, reevaluating these goals open more doors than we could imagine. Often, it is not just internships or networking events that shape our future, but the spontaneous moments — hour-long conversations in the Dobbs Common Table or the coincidental run-ins during Wonderful Wednesdays. Arguing with peers over questions like, “Should attendance be mandatory if you can pass the class without going?” and interviewing other students about the greatest compliment they have received as a Flourishing Fellow has actually revealed more about my values — curiosity, authenticity and compassion — than any job. So, I challenge current and future Emory students to leverage opportunities in all facets to fervently pursue their aspirations. Authentically embracing our dreams across different paths creates an environment where others can find inspiration. Watching my friends chase their lifelong dreams of becoming an entrepreneur, actress or pilot has fostered a space that empowers me to fulfill my own ambitions.
As I graduate, I find myself dreaming once again in a different direction: as a journalist. I hope to shed light on overlooked voices and bring the truth to the surface: truth behind social inequalities, cultural narratives that are often misunderstood or the lived experiences of communities that rarely make headlines. It is a direction that might seem unconventional for an economics major. However, having the opportunity to be curious, communicative and inventive is far more true to who I am. I encourage others to be persistent in finding their passion and pursue it. Dare to be a pilot, start your own food company, create a web series or, must I say it, dare to be a princess. Your younger self was curious if your aspirations were even possible. Let the dreamer in you today prove that you can accomplish them.
Caleb Bunch (25C) is from the suburbs of Philadelphia and majored in economics and minored in religion. During his time at Emory, he was a fellow for the Flourishing Fellows program and the Robson Program, called games as a color commentator for Emory basketball and competed for the track and field team. After graduation, Caleb will be continuing his education at Northwestern University (Ill.), pursuing a Master’s Degree in Journalism.
