The courage to choose passion over tradition

Kuwait Times

2 days ago

By Haneen Abdulwahab Groof
'There is no passion to be found in playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living,' said Nelson Mandela.
In a typical Kuwaiti household, the number of acceptable majors you can study can often be counted on one hand. Despite the progress we've made as a society, the idea that you can pursue a career that brings both stability and passion still feels foreign. The belief that financial success outweighs personal fulfillment continues to dominate. And while money undeniably matters in the real world, its value begins to fade when your life satisfaction starts to decline.
Three individuals who veered far from their university degrees to pursue unexpected careers say the decision wasn't easy—but it was worth it. In interviews, they shared how chasing passion over convention led them down unpredictable paths. Still, a common thread ran through each story: They have no regrets.
Zainab Dashti, an architectural engineer turned content creator at Kuwait Times, summed it up perfectly: 'It is not a choice not to pursue what you love. Take a leap of faith—you have to. You have to take the jump and try.' True to her words, Dashti took that leap, leaving behind a stable career in engineering to follow her passion for film and storytelling.
Similarly, Shabana Dada studied marketing at university, but today she works as a driving instructor, teaching girls how to drive the vehicles of their choice. When asked why she chose marketing, she said, 'It was out of spite. People told me not to do it. They said it wasn't for me—it wasn't for girls.' That defiance motivated her at the time, but with time, she realized her true passion was in cars and mentorship. She reflected, 'You come into this world alone. You're going to leave this world alone. If you don't live it for yourself, who are you going to live it for? Yes, there is family, there is society—but there is always a way to do what you love. And there is definitely more than one way to go about it.'
We each live an individual life shaped by our own choices. Every morning, we decide what to wear, where to go, what to do. Being your most authentic self—choosing to follow your dreams—is just another decision. A difficult one, yes. But a decision nonetheless.
Omar Al-Nakib, who chose to do just that, quoted philosopher Henry David Thoreau: 'Most men lead lives of quiet desperation.' He explained that many people are pressured into living lives they never truly wanted. In a society that often favors conformity, breaking away from expectations is daunting. But some do find the courage to escape the labyrinth. Only those willing to take the risk will discover a life of true purpose. The rest will sit silently on the sidelines, watching as their lives pass them by.
Chasing your dreams isn't easy—it's scary, uncertain, and often unstable. But when compared to the alternative—living an ordinary life you never chose—it becomes the only logical option. The pain of passion is a stepping stone to greatness. The numbness of a mundane life is a ghost that haunts. In the end, it's a choice: happiness or regret. So sometimes ... you just need to jump and trust that your dream will catch you. Only then will fulfillment find you.