College Times

It is a question that has plagued even the most successful college graduates: “What next?”

Four University of Arizona graduates hope to answer that question and make the transition into the “real world” easier and more gratifying.

The Pursue the Passion tour, which consists of the four men and a 31-foot RV, is currently crisscrossing the country interviewing people who are passionate about their careers in the hopes of finding the secret to being happy with a job.

Brett Farmiloe, a 22-year-old accounting major, said he got the idea when he graduated last year. “I went into public accounting,” he said. “And I found out very quickly that I didn’t like it. I had a lot of those ‘what should I do with my life’ questions.”

So, he started seeking out people he thought had interesting jobs; everyone from writers for the New York Times to employees of Microsoft to a Playboy playmate. He hoped that they would provide some insight and help him conquer his questions.

“Even then on the first tour, I found that often times a title or cool job doesn’t mean that you’re passionate about it,” he said.

That’s when he convinced his roommate, Zach Hubbell, and two old friends – Jay Whiting and Noah Pollock – to quit their jobs, live in an RV and tour the country on a quest to find what makes people truly passionate about their jobs, and, more importantly, how everyone can pursue that.

The tour started earlier this month in Phoenix, and they plan on visiting several more times not only to interview more people, but also for their “Passion Hours,” where they share advice and talk to young people face-to-face.

They will be compiling video footage and transcripts of the interviews, as well as blogs and other advice, to post on their website www.pursuethepassion.com.

“I want to turn this into something that helps people,” he said. “I want people to say ‘Hey, if these guys can travel then, hell, I can go out and do what I want, too.”

Although they haven’t found a definitive answer yet, Farmiloe offered this advice: “It’s not easy and it’s hard to be successful in that pursuit. Take a step back and look at what your interests are. Where is the fire inside you? Find that enthusiasm in yourself; it will all steamroll from there.”

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