@TRYING_HARD: I just graduated magna cum laude with a BS in Psychology. Everyone thinks I’ve got life figured out. Truth is, I’m stuck with three job offers.
Job A is with an NGO — purposeful work I love, but it pays very little.
Job B is at a BPO company — great benefits and stability, but it doesn’t excite me.
Job C is a research role — not exactly aligned with my passion, but I’d be working under someone I used to read about in the papers. It’s the kind of mentorship people dream of. The pay’s surprisingly low, though. More prestige than practical.
My family is rooting for the BPO job. I get it. We need the money. But a part of me is afraid I’ll regret not following what I care about most. I’m only 22. This feels like a major fork in the road. How do I balance passion, practicality and prestige? Hope you can help.
DJ: Three job offers — blessings, yes. But no one tells you how options can feel like being at a buffet with one plate and a judgmental tita watching your every move. Each offer pulls you in a different direction and, next thing you know, you’re emailing a complete stranger at 2 a.m. You do have a problem. A good one.
Job A speaks to purpose and impact — the kind that fills your heart. But the pay? Hmm. This works if you have zero bills, live at home and your family’s financially OK. It’s sustainable for a season. But if you’re already buying rice, helping pay Veco or sending a sibling to school, the salary may not stretch far. Passion doesn’t pay for cellphone load.
Job B offers a steady income. Stability matters when your family depends on you. It’s enough to build savings, help at home and start living like an adult with options. It may not be your dream job, but you can still be passionate outside work. Volunteer. Write. Join a civic group. Start a passion project on weekends. You’re not abandoning purpose — you’re funding it.
Job C isn’t just another corporate gig. You’d be working with someone whose name you probably cited in your thesis (without reading the full study — kidding). The work is rigorous, but the mentorship? Elite. The kind that sharpens you, challenges you and makes you question your life choices weekly. The pay isn’t great, but it could fast-track your career.
My take? The challenge isn’t choosing which job is better. They all have value — purpose, paycheck or prestige — but not all serve you best at this specific point in your life.
The real question: What do you need more right now? Not forever. Not ideally. But now.
Are you in a season where your heart needs purpose? Or where your family needs help and every peso counts? Or are you at a stage where growth and exposure to great minds will shape your long-term path?
Choose the role that fits your season.
If you’re thinking long-term, Job C could be a game-changer.
If your priority is short-term survival and family responsibility, Job B lets you help your loved ones and build a safety net.
If personal alignment matters most right now, then your heart already knows the answer: Job A — if you can afford it.
You won’t get all three in one role. I wish you could. But that’s OK. What you can have is clarity — the courage to be honest about your needs, values and where you are in life right now.
You have the blessing of youth. Give yourself room to explore. You’ve already done the hard part — you stayed the course. And that proves the dream is possible. For now, you’re simply taking the real, steady path to get there. That’s a road worth being proud of.