👠 Why It's OK to Quit Your Dream Job 💰

Leo DiCaprio has just announced plans to produce the big-screen adaptation of Kayla Olson’s environmentally-charged apocalyptic YA novel The Sandcastle Empire. While he’s reading Twilight and The Hunger Games—"for research"—we recommend reading today’s news.

Meet today's Clover, @clarityruffman. The Malibu native is in New York to study at Parsons (officially) and to candidly pose for her photog boyfriend (unofficially).

"How to Survive a Shooting" Classes Are Depressingly Popular

Extracurricular activities usually mean things like soccer practice or yearbook committee, but there’s a new one gaining popularity across the country—and unfortunately, it’s not very fun. In the wake of the recent surge of gun violence (reports estimate there were 372 “mass” shootings in 2015 alone!), local police officers across the country are offering courses on how to survive a shootout. Grim, we know. The CRASE curriculum (“Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events”) includes everything from defense skills, to case studies like Columbine, to tips on escaping danger. Even worse than the fact that these classes exist are how popular they are: They’re filling up so quickly that more and more continue to be added nationwide.

Your iPhone Addiction Isn't Enough to Keep Apple on Top

A tech corporation you’ve probably never even heard of has managed to dethrone Apple as the world’s most valuable company. But while you may not recognize it by name, you unknowingly use it every single day. It’s called Alphabet, and it’s the relatively new parent company of Google. After holding an earnings-driven rally earlier this week, the company’s stocks hit a record high at $810.35 apiece—and earned the Alphabet/Google founders more than a billion each within hours. (So, can we hold an earnings-driven rally too, or…?) Of course, when Apple unveils what will reportedly be a sleeker, smaller iPhone in April, its stock will probably skyrocket once again.

U.S. Military Generals Want Women to Get Drafted, Too

Considering the draft officially ended 40 years ago, it’s easy to assume military conscription is something that happens only in U.S. history books. But maybe not: In 1980, President Carter created a policy called Selective Service, which requires virtually all men aged 18-25 to register with the military, just in case a wartime draft gets reinstated. And now a couple of U.S. military generals are determined to make women enlist with Selective Service, too. The Defense Department recently opened up all military jobs to women (before, we were only considered for certain positions). Now some are arguing that this equal treatment should mean equal responsibility—in other words, if dudes are drafted, girls should be too. As Defense Secretary Ash Carter put it, "Our force of the future must continue to benefit from the best America has to offer. This includes women."

Kale and Other Magical Foods Can Literally Save Your Life

When you think of fiber, you probably think of the dusty tub of Metamucil in your grandparents’ kitchen. Yum. But tasteless powdered supplements aside, dietary fiber—the stuff found in fruit, vegetables, and grains—is pretty much the most important thing you can eat, especially if you’re both a teen and a girl. Researchers studied 44,000 women over 20 years, and learned that the ones who ate fiber-rich diets in high school cut their risk of breast cancer by 16%. Even more stunning: Those who ate the recommended 25 to 30 grams of daily fiber had a 24% lower risk of developing the disease before menopause. This is great intel, because fiber is delicious. Avocado toast? So much fiber! Chia seed pudding? All the fiber! Chipotle burritos? They may be full of E. coli, but they’re also full of fiber. Eat up.

The Most Controversial Vaccine Is Also the Most Effective

First, the bad news: Getting an HPV shot usually means an awkward trip to the doctor’s office and an uncomfortable injection. But hassle aside, the vaccine protects against cervical cancer (among other forms), which means it’s probably worth it. Even better news: It's becoming more effective. The Center for Disease Control has updated the immunization to protect against nine potential diseases—and what’s more, they’re recommending it for kids as young as 9. If you're wondering why a shot so powerful still has doubters, well, you're not alone. The CDC doesn't get it either. "It's unfortunate that it's gotten wrapped up in the politics and ethical issues," a rep said. "We've always wanted a vaccine that protects against cancer, and now we've got one and people aren't using it as widely as they should."

I decided that I wanted to be a magazine editor when I was a freshman in high school. I had just published a personal essay—my first one ever!— in the '00s teen bible, Girls' Life. The sheer adrenaline of seeing my name in print immediately convinced me that this was it. Writing for magazines was what I was meant to be doing with my life, and this instant conviction was enough for me to push my old dream careers, like vet and movie star, to the back of my mind.

From that point forward, I had my eye on the prize. I wrote for The Nashville Scene, the local indie magazine, before leaving my hometown to attend college in New York. I interned every summer at the swankiest-seeming fashion magazines, and suffered the painful high heel blisters to prove it. I watched The Devil Wears Prada dozens of times, because it was inexplicably inspiring to me (although, considering Andy leaves the fashion industry to pursue a different career in the end, maybe the movie foreshadowed what would happen in my own life...).

When I graduated from college and nabbed a position at my favorite magazine ever, I couldn't believe it. Sure, I had worked my butt off for the opportunity—but after building the idea up in my head for years, landing a staff position still felt too good to be true.

But here’s the thing that nobody ever tells you: Just because your current gig is your dream job at some moment in time doesn't mean it'll stay that way. Whether you experience the position firsthand and realize it’s not what you want, or you decide to change course earlier on, it’s totally fine. Sometimes the glossy sheen of a job just wears off when you get too close to it, and the cracks below the surface are exposed.

That’s what happened to me. I ended up hopping between magazines and various media companies for the next few years before eventually deciding that my new dream job was being my own boss. And, ta-da, here we are!

I realize now that the most important part about having a career plan isn’t the end goal. It’s understanding that your professional dreams can evolve. Once I realized that I didn’t care so much about the free clothes or fancy parties that came along with fashion magazines, I was able to pinpoint exactly why I first wanted to break into the industry back in high school: to write. That's all. When you strip the other extra fluff away, it becomes easier to remember why you were originally interested in the gig. That way, if you do decide to leave your company, it’s no problem to find a plan B.

Who knows? Maybe labeling something a "dream job” just puts too much pressure on one particular occupation. I mean, how many jobs can really live up to this impossible standard?! Just like your apartment and your wardrobe and your interests, your career goals can change as you do. It’s just up to you to have the courage to realize it, and to change with them.

@mockingbirdsall: A self-described "extroverted introvert," she posts gorgeous acapella covers, proving that Instagram is the new YouTube.

@sedonalennox: This college student has mastered the art of the reading-a-book-while-sipping-coffee-in-bed snapshot.
@kyrasorce: She does aerial yoga and routinely hits impressive dance poses in exotic locales.
@gigieatsvegan: Regardless of whether or not you’re vegan yourself, the Chicago teen’s perfect veggie food snaps are pretty much guaranteed to make you hungry.
@mckaleym: You probably recognize the actress from roles in Hart of Dixie and Scream Queens, but as her Insta proves, she’s just a peace sign-loving goofball at heart.

Pssst! Forward this email to 5 friends and get a callout in an upcoming Follow Back!