I don’t know how else to put it. What’s the advice on? My job? My schooling? My life? Everything?
I’m at a crossroads in my life. I’m a college graduate with no skills towards the real world. I’m noticing this more and more each day. The problem is that while I have the desire to move up in the world, I lack to motivation to do so. Pisser, eh?
I have the opportunity to go back to school for more education beyond the college level. This would be an intense commitment of years of my life. I sit here now with applications in hand (well, off to the side, it would be hard to type otherwise) and I wonder what I should do. Half of me says you’d be an idiot to blow this opportunity to advance yourself. The other half says that if you go, you’ll flunk out because you won’t dedicate yourself to the task. What good would that do? 20 grand down the drain.
What if I pass through school and I realize that’s not what I want to do with my life? That’s 60 grand down the drain. Oh sure, I would have plenty of doors open to me, but would I be happy with my career choices? And does that matter if I’m not happy now? At least I’d be making more money while remaining unfulfilled. What if what I really wanted to do didn’t require the schooling and I threw away three years of my life chasing after other people’s dreams? What if I’m not trying hard enough with what I have now?
I feel I’m not explaining myself properly. But I think that if I could truly sort it out, I’d have an answer for myself.
Ender, most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. If you try to figure out the rest of your life, you’re going to muck up today real well. Don’t worry about the what ifs, figure out what you think you might love to do, then try doing it. It it doesn’t work out, look around and try something else.
I used to suffer from “analysis paralysis”. I had to have all the pros and cons of a given action figured out, and come up with contingency plans for each possible complication. As a result, I suffered many terrible fates in my lifetime, most of which never actually happened. The few spectacular failures were very educational.
Enough rambling. Have you read “Shadow of the Hegemon” yet? Just saw it in the bookstore today!
Well, Ender, I think that Qadgop is correct, to an extent. You shouldnt’ worry about planning every detail of your life out, since stuff never goes according to plan.
There’s always some monkey around the corner, gettin ready to throw his typewriter into the works because he’s tired of writing Shakespeare. You can quote me on that.
Seriously, though, if you’re sitting with applications next to you, the whole “don’t worry too much” philosophy might not be the best way to go. I think alot of it depends on what sort of extra education you wanna earn, and just how sure you are of it. Like you said, it’s a huge commitment, and if your doubts outweigh the prospect of enjoyment, then chances are it might not be worth it.
Still, I’m sure that you’ll do fine, no matter what you do. You’re extremely intelligent, and one of the most consistently enjoyable posters to read on this board. Have you thought about writing? As far as I can tell, you’re wit is extremely sharp, and you seem very creative. Again, from what I know of you, you seem like you’ll find a way to come out on top in any situation, no matter what road you take.
Well, I, for one, need more information but I’ll go with what I’ve got right now.
First, I hate to be the practical kid but I think you need to consider a few things. Do you have student loans? If you do, you will have to start repaying them 6-9 months after you leave school. So if you decide you’re not going to school, be aware of the possible expenses and what you might need to do to pay those expenses off.
Second, I understand about getting a degree that, in itself, is not that marketable unless you plan on going to grad school. I got my degree in biology. I was accepted and set to go into med school. Problem was, I just didn’t want to go to med school. I wanted my philosophy degree (I got biology because my parents said they weren’t going to pay 20 grand a year to have a philosophy major daughter). I was lucky enough to have a really great conversation with a woman named Kathleen Andrews. She’s the CEO of Andrews & McMeel publishing company. She said, “You are 22. You can not make any mistakes right now because no matter what you do, you’ll be learning something.” And so I bailed on med school and got my philosophy degree - then worked for a year and then I did what I really wanted to do - I went to law school. Graduated in May and now working.
So what’s that boil down to…you don’t have to decide what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. If you don’t think that you are ready for more school and you are really concerned about wasting that time and money, I say don’t do it. It may burn you out and you may never want to return. I found that taking a year off to work really made me want to return to school (and the loans are deferred until you’re done again).
Let’s say you decide you’re not going to return to school. The next question is: Now what?? You may think that there is little you can do with your degree - and that might be the case - but who really knows? You need to figure out how you’ll live the next year and what your expenses will be. I hate to be that practical but that’s just life. Hell, I have a friend who sold sunglasses on the beach in Miami and lived with her folks. It doesn’t have to be a 9-5 job. If you don’t have to worry about school loans or big bills, hell, join the peace corps or get a job doing anything at all that’s brainless and enjoyable - or work in a library. You can’t make any mistakes because no matter what you do, you’ll be learning something.
Boiled down: Don’t go to school if you aren’t ready - but think about if, in the long run you would like to return and then hold on to that so you don’t let it slip to the wayside. And then do what you need to do to pay your bills and don’t feel obligated to do anything but what makes you happy. As for what that is…let’s face it - no one can give you advice on that.
Ok, let me tell you what my degree has meant to me.
Pretty much nothing.
For reasons that would take forever to explain, I ended up with a general studies degree with a minor in Computer Information Systems. After being a Micky D’s manager for about 9 months after graduation, I got a job at the local newspaper. I got it because I was fairly well versed with computers (PC compatible mind you) and they were about to upgrade there system (Mac). I learned Macs quickly, and still love them. Well, my basic position was in Ad Design, because that’s where the original Macs were, so for 3 months I learned Ad Design, when the new system came in I did Ad Design, was the SysOp, picture scanner and ran film on the imagesetter. 3 years later I got a job in another city (for much more pay) doing magazine layout. The reason that I got this job is that the representative that my previous employer bought his new system from was now working for this company, he remembered me, and told them to get me, I was good and caught on quick. A couple months later, the only tech under this guy quit. I got moved to 1 of 2 tech positions while still carrying some of my design load. After about 1.5 years of them constantly heaping crap on me I sent out my resume again.
gasp
Now, I work for an insurance company. I design forms, manage print jobs, work hand in hand with the print shop and Materials Management (the warehouse crew), have approval and editing rights over many documents and a few other things.
Ok. I guess the point to all that is, if you have marketable skills, use them. 10 years from now you’ll probably look back and say [Talking Heads]Well, how did I get here?[/Talking Heads]. Myself, I may be looking for another design or tech job soon. I’m finding I really don’t like the managerial portion of my job.
Unless you already know what you are intending on studying in school if you go back, then decide what would suit your interests.
It is impossible to plan for every possibility. If you think you may like school and have something to study that you would enjoy, then go for it and see what happens.
Yes it’s law school. No, it probably won’t be 20 thou a year but it could be.
qadgop and jkala I love how the best advice that can be given on a board designed to fight ignorance is to stop thinking so much. You’re right though. I can’t plan for everything. The problem is I’m not planning for anything. I’m just going about my life oblivious to the fact that there’s a tomorrow. The problem is that I’m not even enjoying today all that much. Something needs to change. Maybe that something isn’t my education, maybe it’s just me. I’ve got to take the first step somewhere, though, right?
Oh, and I’ll start a thread on Shadow in IMHO just as soon as I’m done with this.
Humble Servant and jester glad I could make you laugh. That’s one of the things I like doing. I like writing. I think I always have. Maybe that should be what I do with my life. The problem is that while my ultimate goal isn’t becoming rich, I do need to be comfortable. Writing as a whole doesn’t pay as much as being a lawyer. But I look at a job like Dave Barry’s or Orson Scott Card’s and I feel I’d be happier there. That’s what I debate. What I come down to is whether I can handle law school. My ability to put word to paper won’t go away in three years.
andyman you’re right. Sometimes a degree means nothing towards what you’re able to do. Maybe I’m not trying hard enough now. Actually, I know that to be the case. The problem is my motivation. Most things don’t motivate me. I hate that. I find it ironic that I want to be motivated but can’t find the motivation to do so. If I were to be motivated, I know that there would be a world of opportunity out there no matter what I chose to do.
Tiburon I’ve already taken a year and a half off of school. The real world is scary and I still feel like I’m in the shallow end of the pool. Am I ready to go back to school? Hell yes. Am I ready to study? I wish I knew. Probably not. I like the quote from Andrews. I do learn new things each day. The problem is that I’m a really great learner and a piss poor student.
So what have I decided? Well, I guess I’m spending tonight filling out applications. At the very least I’ll apply to the law schools and take it from there. Thanks everyone for their advice. More is welcome.
