That's what it boils down to really, and too many of us give up on our dreams in order to pursue a socially acceptable position, a position with a notable company, or basically the conservative option that guarantees a paycheck every two weeks. Sometimes we have to work in positions that aren't exactly aligned with our goals just to survive, so you may not be realizing your dream immediately. It's unlikely that your dream will be realized upon commencement day coming and going, and your first position may be the complete opposite direction of what you really wanted. Just do a search on Monster or CareerBuilder for entry level positions for college graduates and tell me with a straight face that 99% of the available positions sound exciting. Unlikely to happen. However, it's a start to gaining the tangible and intangible resources that you will need to achieve your dreams.
We are the "silver spoon" generation whether we like to acknowledge it or not. We're hungry for success - immediate success. Everything we do, create, or consume is instant, on-demand, downloadable, ready in minutes, and available everywhere. Adjusting to a new challenge that could last 45-50 years after completing nearly two decades of institutional learning is like a slap in the face. There will be no parade, just a graduation party hosted by your friends or family in which you will receive a few household items to get you started in your first place. Then you'll move, find an apartment, show up for the first day of work (hopefully not late, like my first day), and you'll dig into whatever position it is that you signed up for at that career fair months ago. You'll get over the shock, and the rough transition from student to full-time employee will yield new knowledge and experiences that will either make you settle in as a lifer for your company, or will encourage you to better yourself and the pursuit of that childhood dream. You have your whole life to find your true passion, but if you think back to when you were a kid it's usually easier to find.
Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams (video)
