By: Jash Patel

July 10, 2025

News Reporting

Students and adults at Indiana University shared what inspired them to choose their jobs or future careers. Several people from diverse backgrounds talked about what brought them to the career paths they are on today.

“It was just timing. He needed someone and I was available,” said Eddie Blann.

Blann said his current job choice came from convenience and necessity to take care of his family rather than personal interest. He needed a job when he moved back to Indiana to care for his sister. Bruce, the owner of a real estate company, offered him one. Blann now works as head of maintenance for Bruce Storm Real Estate.

“I always had an upward trajectory at my work. Due to that upward trajectory, I was able to get into various levels of the operations and end up running them,” said Jeff Simon.

Simon works as an operations manager at an automobile manufacturer. He said that although he did not know he would end up at that specific company, he knew his goal was to slowly move up within a company. Simon shared that while he has a marketing degree, his current job isn’t in marketing. He believes people rarely have a degree that matches their profession. Supporting this, a study by the Burning Glass Institute found that half of American college graduates don’t have jobs that require a college degree.

“I just feel like I look up to a lot of journalists and really great writers,” said Avery Rice.

Rice, a college student on the journalism track at the IU Media School, said she aspires to be a reporter or political journalist. She chose her career path based on genuine interest in the profession, not just the desire for money or income.

Career choice can be influenced by a combination of interest, circumstances, or simply the need for employment to sustain oneself. No matter how they chose their careers, everyone has a reason behind it.