‘Dear Richard, aged 21 … from Richard, aged 42’

I've decided to write a letter to my 21 year old self. 'What prompted this?' I hear you ask. Well, the other weekend, almost exactly 20 years after I graduated, I went back to my university, to help out at a Careers Day and enthuse about a career working in the charity sector. It made me think about who I was all those years ago, and what I wish I had known. I know that hindsight is 20/20, because George Benson told me so years ago, but anyway, here's the letter: ***Dear Richard (aged 21) I hope you don't mind this really old chap dropping you a line. It's just that there are a few things I've learned over the years that I'd like to tell you. You're doing a lot of 'charity work' at the moment, and wondering whether it could be a career for you. Doesn't pay as much, does it? My advice to you? Go for it! Follow your passion. I know too many people who went for jobs they thought they ought to go for, rather than ones they're passionate about. It's the passion, not the pay cheque, that will get you up in the morning. I know that you're worried about going into the wrong career, or that you'll change your mind and employers might think worse of you for that. Guess what? You can't make that mistake (within reason), because single sector careers are very rare these days. For my part, I've mainly been working with charities, but spent a bit of time in the public sector too. As long as you can explain your motivation for doing what you did and for doing what you w