A Conflict of Interests: I Majored in Commerce and Minored in Studio Art | Annelise Eden Wolfe ‘25
Where do passion and career intersect? Should passion and career intersect? These are two questions I have been exploring as I grapple with my inclination towards the arts and my pursuit of a career in marketing. I’ve come to acknowledge two truths: First, there is nothing wrong with developing a God-given gift, while also practicing wisdom by working a full-time job. Second, there is nothing wrong with taking a risk within your means to be obedient to a call the Lord has placed on your life, even if it doesn’t seem like the most financially attractive decision.
My greatest passions in life have always revolved around various forms of art: painting, graphic design, songwriting, and writing poems and short stories. At present, I sell digital designs and physical stickers, with plans to expand my portfolio. I also write and perform songs, and I released my debut single, “October,” last Fall, with ambitions to release more music in the coming years. When I reflect on the Lord’s hand in cultivating my passions, my heart overflows with gratitude. I am so grateful for the ability to release different forms of my art into the world. I am certain that I was made to create, even if just for the process rather than any monetary success.
As for a future career, I plan to work in digital marketing as a project manager, where I will contribute to the development of brand identities, digital experiences, and other creative strategies. Working a 9-to-5 isn’t my passion per se, but it is purposeful, and the Lord will be with me in it. Where God opens a door, I will follow–praying continually and inviting Him into every day and every transition.
The Lord has been teaching me to trust Him and rest in the security of knowing He has His best in store for me, because I serve God who loves me. I believe that He has placed passions in my heart to be used, and I believe that He has something more abundant for me than the world’s definition of success. I am assured of this when I read Romans 8:28, which says, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Although the future is largely uncertain, God is sovereign. In seasons of uncertainty, I can choose to have a heart full of joy and contentment because of the Savior I serve. I seek a future where I walk in step with the Lord, whether He leads me to pour more into my passions or pursue the meaningful, albeit sometimes mundane, path of a career.
Perhaps passion and career can, and do, intersect, but they absolutely do not have to for us to be faithfully following the Lord. As for my own passions and career, I will attempt to pursue both with excellence. However, I stand firm in this truth which stems from John 15:5: apart from Jesus I can do nothing. So, I will pursue every endeavor with the Lord at the center of my life and listen to His voice as I navigate my next step. I plan to begin my post-grad life working a corporate 9-to-5, practicing art, and most importantly, seeking the Kingdom first.
Print by Annelise Wolfe.