I recently discussed with my oldest daughter, the beauty of the New England culture. We were talking about plans for after graduation, and her frustration with not having one particular goal. It is tempting to feel discouraged if you are in a community with many other students who had particular callings early on; horsemanship, carpentry, boat building, etc, but one of my favorite things about New England, is the hardy warmth of the person who can apply themselves decorating a cake, and while it bakes, get a fire going in the stove. Know how to patch a hole in cloth to a serviceable condition, and then edit an email.
The term “jack of all trades” was first heard in the sixteenth century as an admiration of someone with many skills. The degradation (“master of none”) didn’t appear until the eighteenth century, coincidentally (probably not), directly after the industrial revolution. How unfortunate that with increased production, came the rejection of the attributes of a well-rounded individual. There is no criticism for someone who is expertly proficient in one particular trade (unless it is crime), but neither is there fault in the one who can accomplish many different tasks.
Pursue excellence, yes, and if you have a specialty, amen, but do not despise the myriad of gifts that God gives us.