Passion.

The title says it all. It's the cornerstone of any successful career. It's the motivation that fills a resume'. It's the thing that keeps you coming back, even when you get knocked down. It keeps you in school when the stress is too much. It makes you pick up that pen and keep filling out job, internship, scholarship, and grant applications after rejection. It translates into other emotions and characteristics...stubbornness, strength, drive. Passion breeds these traits.

Passion is my motivator. Whatever the source of your passion, you need to hang on to it. Dig your claws in and hang on for dear life.

Passion can be a double-edged sword. Too much passion can lead to things like disappointment, burn-out, exhaustion, or even despair. Unchecked passion can backfire. But without passion, what is the point of doing what you're doing?

I'm almost done with my sophomore year of college. I have a few weeks left to a successful internship. I've had my first freelance video production and post-production job. I've gotten hits from news organizations, communications departments, and head hunters. I've been given offers and ideas. I've even created a Monster profile because it's easier to post my resume' there than explain to people why my resume' isn't posted anywhere.

Take a look at the people around you. You can tell who's found their passions. They're the students who stay up until 4 a.m. working on a project relating to their intended career, and don't mind. (I was once told that I was the happiest all-nighter partner a friend had ever had. We were doing PhotoShop work. Why wouldn't I be happy?)

Think about your goals. Think about where you want to go. Are you happy with what you see? Are you happy, or just content? Don't settle for something that just makes you feel "okay" about what you do. It's never too late to re-evaluate your dreams. I've found mine, now go make sure you've found yours.

What is "Identity?"

Maybe it's because I work in marketing. Perhaps it's because I have a distant-but-growing obsession with branding. I can't say for certain, but I'm quickly becoming tangled in this task of creating an identity. Who do I want to be? Or, more specifically, what do I want others to see? This is a valuable thing to consider in your career. At this stage in life, it's terrifying to sit and think, "Who am I? What makes Kelly Rivard?"

I'm finding that this is a careful combination of "being yourself" and adaptation. I'm definitely not saying you should run out and create some alter-ego. You shouldn't, by any means, lie about your history or credentials. These should be givens. You never want your identity to be a lie. You need to be who you say you are, whether it's on a resume, or an online account. LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Google Buzz, and various other networking sites can be valuable tools for establishing your professional identity, but they can also be deal-breakers.

This is hard subject for me. My professional interests are pulling me in two very, very different directions. At age 19, I'm contemplating the possibilities of what I'll be doing for the rest of my life.

I know, I'm young. I know my goals can change and that my career could take my places I'd never imagine. But what I do now could influence my opportunities later. If I grab internships in public relations, will it be too late to go to e-commerce later? These questions are common.

For now, I'm going with the flow. Opportunities are finding their way to me. The proactive things I did early on have brought some amazing chances to my doorstep now. I can at least rest assured that I was wise in getting on-the-job experience young.

Going with the flow doesn't make it any less terrifying. I'm shocked at how often I get complimented on how motivated I am, how focused and career-ready I am. I always look at the person talking to me with surprise and confusion. I'm driven, yes. Motivated, yes. But I'm not ready. I'm nowhere near ready. I'm uncertain.

I don't even know who I'm going to be in the work world yet. I may not for a long time. But it's safe to say that I'll cherish the relative safety of college until I have to face the "real" world.