when I grow up.
its tough to sit down and study. this is on par with job hunting and teaching little kids as something that I would want to do.
I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in a year, when I dont have any more schooling left to do. When Im educated, I guess. My first plan was to go become a paramedic, like friend Beth, but I'm still not sure if that should be my route. Borrowing money to attempt a coffee shop seems like a nice stereotypical idea that an English Major could pull off, but the stakes are awfully high, or so it seems. And besides, it could be more difficult, now that there is a coffee shop on every street corner. I'm almost certain I dont want to do the service that my esteemed sister has found as her niche; teaching the young is a noble pursuit but one that would eventually kill me. Being a violinist is more exciting, but not an option anymore. Which leads me to the final two ideas that I had, which are the most extreme- dropping out of society, and joining the army.
Now when I say 'drop out', I dont mean it in the 'pack a bag with three pairs of underwear and head out for the Mythical West' way. Im thinking more of getting a deadend job for a few years, until I have raised enough money to buy a small farm that I could use to keep myself self sufficient. I would still need some money, because I would still want electricity and phone connections and possibly the internet, but most of my physical needs could be addressed simply, through raising animals and plants to feed myself and anyone else crazy enough to come along for the ride. This path seems very peaceful to me; though I dont know if I could handle the protracted solitude, but I think that the reason I really balk is that while this is a lifestyle, its also one that doesnt benefit anyone except me (and those people that believe I should be isolated/sterilized). I would feel like I had put the life which I have been so graciously given to waste. Then again, since life is absurd and random, there probably is just about as much chance of me affecting other people's lives positively in this method than in any other career.
As for the army- I know that many people hate the army. In principle, I do too. But its definitely a possibility that must be considered. The army looks for strong young people to send them to fight. I can deal with all of that. My hesitations begin with the extremely strict striations within the system- the rank hierarchy, the necessity for total obedience, etc. Also, with a college degree, I would probably be put on the fast track to becoming a minor officer, which I have a LOT of problems with. I dont know if I could order men to their deaths. But there would be a lot of benefits from the army- guaranteed money, easy living for a while, the option to work around machine guns that fire minigrenades, and definite benefits to civilian life once it is over. But I am probably going to abandon this idea- all my friends that went into the army with the 'four years then Im out' mentality are now sorely regretting it. I probably would too.
Ah well. I have a year to think about it.
I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do in a year, when I dont have any more schooling left to do. When Im educated, I guess. My first plan was to go become a paramedic, like friend Beth, but I'm still not sure if that should be my route. Borrowing money to attempt a coffee shop seems like a nice stereotypical idea that an English Major could pull off, but the stakes are awfully high, or so it seems. And besides, it could be more difficult, now that there is a coffee shop on every street corner. I'm almost certain I dont want to do the service that my esteemed sister has found as her niche; teaching the young is a noble pursuit but one that would eventually kill me. Being a violinist is more exciting, but not an option anymore. Which leads me to the final two ideas that I had, which are the most extreme- dropping out of society, and joining the army.
Now when I say 'drop out', I dont mean it in the 'pack a bag with three pairs of underwear and head out for the Mythical West' way. Im thinking more of getting a deadend job for a few years, until I have raised enough money to buy a small farm that I could use to keep myself self sufficient. I would still need some money, because I would still want electricity and phone connections and possibly the internet, but most of my physical needs could be addressed simply, through raising animals and plants to feed myself and anyone else crazy enough to come along for the ride. This path seems very peaceful to me; though I dont know if I could handle the protracted solitude, but I think that the reason I really balk is that while this is a lifestyle, its also one that doesnt benefit anyone except me (and those people that believe I should be isolated/sterilized). I would feel like I had put the life which I have been so graciously given to waste. Then again, since life is absurd and random, there probably is just about as much chance of me affecting other people's lives positively in this method than in any other career.
As for the army- I know that many people hate the army. In principle, I do too. But its definitely a possibility that must be considered. The army looks for strong young people to send them to fight. I can deal with all of that. My hesitations begin with the extremely strict striations within the system- the rank hierarchy, the necessity for total obedience, etc. Also, with a college degree, I would probably be put on the fast track to becoming a minor officer, which I have a LOT of problems with. I dont know if I could order men to their deaths. But there would be a lot of benefits from the army- guaranteed money, easy living for a while, the option to work around machine guns that fire minigrenades, and definite benefits to civilian life once it is over. But I am probably going to abandon this idea- all my friends that went into the army with the 'four years then Im out' mentality are now sorely regretting it. I probably would too.
Ah well. I have a year to think about it.