I went to school for architecture but realized I hated it. Here's how I found my dream career as a writer.
- I majored in architecture but I realized I hated the coursework in my sophomore year.
- Between classes, I started experimenting and taking risks, discovering my love of writing.
When I first started college, I knew I wanted to study architecture and become an architect.
But at 19, I was in the middle of my second year of studying architecture as an undergrad, and I realized that I hated the coursework. I'd spent my first year loathing the degree.Growing up in a South Asian family, I was always pushed toward obtaining a technical degree and greatly discouraged from pursuing a creative one.Though I graduated with a degree in architecture, I decided to become a freelance writer instead. Here's how.
While at college, I experimented
I knew I didn't want a career in architecture anymore, so during my second year of university, I was hell-bent on experimenting. I joined a youth organization because I thought I wanted to work in student exchange. I didn't.
But it was important to experiment and try out new things to discover my interests, strengths, and weaknesses. All the experimentation helped me develop a strong sense of my likes and dislikes and helped me understand what I was willing to compromise on and what my nonnegotiables were.
I took some risks
At that time, I regularly read a digital magazine that had launched a few years prior and was gaining popularity. I had grown up reading books and magazines because my father filled the house with them.
Between college classes, I emailed one of the editors at the digital magazine. She rejected it. I wrote another one, and that was rejected as well. I took another risk by emailing her again. She published the third pitch, and I continued writing a few more essays for them out of passion. That's when I realized this could be the career I was looking for.If I hadn't taken those risks, I would have never found my love of writing.
Networking helped me shape my future
I came across the term "freelance writer" when researching how people can write for different publications without a full-time job.
I spoke to a few freelance writers, and according to their advice, I sent out more ideas to different publications. After many rejections, another publication commissioned two of my pieces. I was keen on developing my writing style, so I applied and got accepted into a two-month internship where I got to write a few articles.Then, I applied for a few fellowships, and leading journalists from top newspapers mentored me. I learned the art of reporting and investigations.I eventually realized I wanted to write about anything and everything — from fashion and lifestyle to tech and social issues. I was heading into my final year of completing my undergraduate degree in architecture. I couldn't leave that for a full-time job, so creating a successful freelance-writing career was my only option.
I found resources online to help build my career
I bought the book "The Byline Bible: Get Published in Five Weeks" by Susan Shapiro. The book taught me how to write and sell essays, and by the time I had finished the book, I had sold my first few personal essays.