Rehashing the passion talk, all thanks to a teenage girl.
Who knew a 5 Seconds of Summer concert would prompt an intense reflection?
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7bffb32-c7cc-4f6f-832b-914ab30593ba_1600x900.jpeg)
Once I got home after the 5 Seconds of Summer concert on Sept. 6, I laid down in bed to rewatch my favorite moments. The giddy feeling I had reminded me of two things.
It first reminded me of the younger, fourteen-year-old me who couldn’t get enough of the four Australians. I loved them from ‘She Looks So Perfect,’ a song I can no longer take seriously, and as I grew older, the memories and connections I made through my love for them strengthened me. Cheesy, right?
If you were curious why I turned out rebellious (if you could even call it that), it’s all due to three 5SOS members dropping out of high school to pursue their passion for music. At the time, I bombarded myself with the possibility of leaving my life in Puerto Rico to start a band, party every night, and repeat for the next several years.
Alas, eight years later, I finished high school, and the passion for creating music dissipated. In December, I’ll graduate college with a bachelor’s degree in journalism – Something fourteen-year-old Alba wouldn’t expected!
The second thing I remembered the night after the concert was something I previously discussed in Girlsplaining.
If you recall my newsletter on separating hobbies from careers, then good job! If you haven’t, I’ll gladly remind you: I wrote about how your hobby shouldn’t necessarily be your career. Because at least your hobby is something you eventually won’t hate but appreciate more as you schedule a time with it.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F02fc7b99-11de-4dc4-92d3-d1486574a666_1284x724.jpeg)
But now I look at 5SOS and imagine how thrilling it must be to live out your passion. I could see and feel their euphoria simply by performing in front of people who enjoy their work. In all honesty, it’s something I’d love to do in the future. If I could make a lasting impact like that, especially make someone feel as giddy as I felt during the concert, then all the blood, sweat, and tears put into my work would be worth it.
I began studying journalism on a whim, fresh into the lockdown, when I realized that my love for fashion didn’t correlate with the lifestyle. Every job has its excruciating moments, sure. But the letdown from the fashion industry made sure I never had a future in fashion.
But it’s all about the passion, right? 5SOS taught me, and a lot of people, that there’s nothing wrong with pursuing that dream and making it your career. It’s just a shitton of work and energy you must put into this project.
Does this mean I’ll start writing songs and performing? Maybe! What about producing paintings and prints that everyone will hang in their bedroom? That might be possible!
But right now, all I want is for my final semester to end.
Who knows? Maybe my future will surprise you.