Response to johnnyfavorite's questions
apparently you finally got the college thing worked out, after a near-infinite number of fits and starts. what changed? what is your major? what do you plan to do with the degree, when you get it?
Two events locked me onto school, I think. #1 was bumping into Religious Studies, my major. I took a class called "Life After Death" for an elective and it interested the fuck out of me, as well as shifted my understanding of various religions and what religion is. That interest has fueled my undergrad years since--before that, I was unhappy with school, pretty much using it for financial aid until I could figure out what else to do. #2 was finally getting away from my parents. Pursuing school on my own terms instead of on theirs completely changed the experience.
I don't know what I'll do with it. I picked a major that interested me, figuring that was better than picking one for mere practical purposes. Who does cooler shit, people passionate about their studies, or people just plodding along? The answer is "duh, the former." I don't think I'll be starting a religion, becoming a pastor, or teaching any time soon, but I still like the mental workout, and I'm eager to apply it in some way, if not in an obvious, direct way. I also think a degree in itself opens up some opportunities.
there have been little hints here and there that you have an idea of what you're going to do with yourself, post-college. this calls for elaboration.
Not grad school. Maybe at some point, but for now, I'm eager for something different. And I'll continue to be a bookworm, I'm just tired of not having enough time outside of school for things besides reading, music in particular. Time management has never been my strength. For every hour of homework or reading that I do, I seem to need another hour of pure dawdling.
My aforementioned plan does call for elaboration, but I don't really want to share the details just yet. The idea grows in my mind on a daily basis, but it's still in vague territory, and sort of far-off from happening. In the mean time, I'd really just like to have a hands-on job, helping people. I'm not quite sure what that is going to be exactly. I don't want to be a social worker or anything, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm on the sidelines, watching sad shit go down. I'd feel slightly more comfortable watching people become crackheads and zombies if I was actively fighting the trend, somehow.
I just want some kind of experience that can... mature me in some ways. I'm not the most organized person, or the most leader-y person, just a fiery person. I want a job that can open my eyes in a way a book doesn't and inform my "bigger" plans.
at one point you were supporting yourself playing poker. still true? if not, what replaced it? i've read blogs of a lot of people who formerly played poker for a living, and the reasons why they quit sound awfully similar. i'm wondering if you'll fit that pattern as well.
I didn't have a bankroll. I was spending most of my winnings on things I needed, so there was no safety net if I ever had a few bad days. I never had a "huge" day at the casino, not the way pros do. I played too carefully for that. Basically, after a few bad days, I had to stop. By the time I had enough to play again, I pretty much lost interest. Poker is a lot of fun, some of the time, but the atmosphere of the casino gets old afterwhile (and skeezy), and playing online is harder and not nearly as fun. So, that's pretty much why.
Two events locked me onto school, I think. #1 was bumping into Religious Studies, my major. I took a class called "Life After Death" for an elective and it interested the fuck out of me, as well as shifted my understanding of various religions and what religion is. That interest has fueled my undergrad years since--before that, I was unhappy with school, pretty much using it for financial aid until I could figure out what else to do. #2 was finally getting away from my parents. Pursuing school on my own terms instead of on theirs completely changed the experience.
I don't know what I'll do with it. I picked a major that interested me, figuring that was better than picking one for mere practical purposes. Who does cooler shit, people passionate about their studies, or people just plodding along? The answer is "duh, the former." I don't think I'll be starting a religion, becoming a pastor, or teaching any time soon, but I still like the mental workout, and I'm eager to apply it in some way, if not in an obvious, direct way. I also think a degree in itself opens up some opportunities.
there have been little hints here and there that you have an idea of what you're going to do with yourself, post-college. this calls for elaboration.
Not grad school. Maybe at some point, but for now, I'm eager for something different. And I'll continue to be a bookworm, I'm just tired of not having enough time outside of school for things besides reading, music in particular. Time management has never been my strength. For every hour of homework or reading that I do, I seem to need another hour of pure dawdling.
My aforementioned plan does call for elaboration, but I don't really want to share the details just yet. The idea grows in my mind on a daily basis, but it's still in vague territory, and sort of far-off from happening. In the mean time, I'd really just like to have a hands-on job, helping people. I'm not quite sure what that is going to be exactly. I don't want to be a social worker or anything, but I'm tired of feeling like I'm on the sidelines, watching sad shit go down. I'd feel slightly more comfortable watching people become crackheads and zombies if I was actively fighting the trend, somehow.
I just want some kind of experience that can... mature me in some ways. I'm not the most organized person, or the most leader-y person, just a fiery person. I want a job that can open my eyes in a way a book doesn't and inform my "bigger" plans.
at one point you were supporting yourself playing poker. still true? if not, what replaced it? i've read blogs of a lot of people who formerly played poker for a living, and the reasons why they quit sound awfully similar. i'm wondering if you'll fit that pattern as well.
I didn't have a bankroll. I was spending most of my winnings on things I needed, so there was no safety net if I ever had a few bad days. I never had a "huge" day at the casino, not the way pros do. I played too carefully for that. Basically, after a few bad days, I had to stop. By the time I had enough to play again, I pretty much lost interest. Poker is a lot of fun, some of the time, but the atmosphere of the casino gets old afterwhile (and skeezy), and playing online is harder and not nearly as fun. So, that's pretty much why.