Gray appeared on my screen, his backdrop an eggshell wall adorned with Star Wars characters and Legos. Wearing a sports cap and a welcoming smile, he radiated creativity. My hunch was spot-on—he was not only a musician but also a producer in his free time.
Gray is an 18-year-old college student at Texas A&M University, studying engineering.
“I come from a small town in the middle of nowhere in Texas and I hope to make it big one day in whatever field I choose to go into.”
As we chatted, it became clear that Gray was grappling with a profound internal conflict. His fondness for engineering was undeniable, yet he was equally drawn to the world of music, a passion he had nurtured over the years.
“To be honest, this is something I’m really struggling with right now because I love Texas A&M, but there are parts where I feel like I don’t know why I’m there. Why am I taking African studies as an engineer as one of my classes? I know college makes you a rounded person, but I feel like I’m going to college right now for the money.”
Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash
As we discussed his feelings, he mentioned that his objective is to graduate, get a master’s degree, and then pursue music. As a musician myself, I stressed the importance of never stopping chasing your dreams. You can study and make music as long as you are passionate about it. Hopefully, in a couple of years, Gray will be an aspiring producer with a degree in engineering — not bad, I would say.
As our conversation transitioned from exploring "what if" scenarios to focusing on the present, we touched on success, happiness, and failure. Each of us defines these concepts differently, and Gray shared his take:
“I feel like there’s a saying in sports, you either win or you learn. And I think that learning from failure is the best way to learn. If you can look back holistically at what made you fail, then you can succeed in the future by changing some things as you go.”
Photo by Emily budd on Unsplash
We can only learn by failing, a truth we sometimes struggle to accept. Gray told me that his biggest fear when looking into the future is the uncertainty of the “what if.”
“The amount of uncertainty in your life that you tolerate directly correlates to the amount of happiness you’ll have,” he said.
Gray is heading in the right direction. Change is often something we resist, yet it’s the very force that drives growth and transformation.
Join us as we explore diverse life stories and journeys—you might just realize you’re not as alone as you think. While we each navigate life in our own way, we often forget how connected we truly are.
Listen to Uncharted: Your Sidekick for Life Podcast and uncover powerful stories that inspire and resonate.
This blog was written by Anais Schmidt, one of the hosts of the Uncharted Podcast. Anais is also an aspiring musician. When not in her studio, she tours Europe with Monte Mai.
If you would like to join the conversation email us at anais@foundingup.com
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