Most schools are set up to be more of a harvesting system to allocate workers, not as an environment to nurture individual development. Teachers no longer have time to diverge from the curriculum to enhance student discovery. Testing defines the school rating, the teacher rating, the city rating, and more importantly, how students advance. You applied yourself; why isn’t work more rewarding?

Start-ups have a friendlier culture than corporations, but they’re new and still must prove themselves. Corporations are established, but the culture can be oppressive, especially when it is time for promotions and raises. Small businesses can be a godsend for entrepreneurs, but still take capital.

What excites you? That’s the fire that makes a career out of a job. It might not have been what you thought in high school. It could be something you discovered just recently. Even if you work from home, much of your day is spent at work. Doing something you like makes all the difference in your week. You can change the world by the little things you do today: An acknowledgment of a coworker, working up an idea to present to your team, or resolving to change fields because you would be happier doing something you really cared about.