In my Meiji Historical Fiction class, my teacher was talking about how weird iPods are. Then he said, "You know, I just don't understand your generation." Everyone kind of laughed. "No, I really mean it," he said. "You all seem to think that you need to get a career or something the instant you get out of college. I bummed around for almost ten years before figuring out what I was doing." He went on to tell us a story about how he had done some construction work with a friend to get his dad off his back about getting a job, and then had ended up getting a grant to go over to Japan to help set up an English language program in schools. When he got back, his dad started bugging him again, so he finally applied for a job teaching Japanese at a University, and it wasn't until then, years after he was out of school, that he started working on his PhD, and only then so he wouldn't be fired. Now he's a successful professor, and very happy with what he does.
I guess the point is that we don't have to absolutely decide what we're doing right away. We're all afraid of getting stuck doing something that we don't want to be, but we still have time before we need to get a career. An odd job to keep going isn't so bad at first, and sometimes it can lead to figuring out what you really want to do.
My dad started off at Catholic school, studying to be a priest. Now he's a Buddhist teaching grad-level Education classes at IU. What we do now isn't necessarily set into stone.
Really, I guess all I'm saying is don't worry too much about it. You'll find something that's good for you.
Hey that's just completely beautiful. I'm really touched. Thanks Nate. I really should stop worrying and try to form a more positive mindset. Good luck to the both of us! :D
Everyone kind of laughed.
"No, I really mean it," he said. "You all seem to think that you need to get a career or something the instant you get out of college. I bummed around for almost ten years before figuring out what I was doing."
He went on to tell us a story about how he had done some construction work with a friend to get his dad off his back about getting a job, and then had ended up getting a grant to go over to Japan to help set up an English language program in schools. When he got back, his dad started bugging him again, so he finally applied for a job teaching Japanese at a University, and it wasn't until then, years after he was out of school, that he started working on his PhD, and only then so he wouldn't be fired.
Now he's a successful professor, and very happy with what he does.
I guess the point is that we don't have to absolutely decide what we're doing right away. We're all afraid of getting stuck doing something that we don't want to be, but we still have time before we need to get a career. An odd job to keep going isn't so bad at first, and sometimes it can lead to figuring out what you really want to do.
My dad started off at Catholic school, studying to be a priest. Now he's a Buddhist teaching grad-level Education classes at IU. What we do now isn't necessarily set into stone.
Really, I guess all I'm saying is don't worry too much about it. You'll find something that's good for you.
Reply
Thanks Nate. I really should stop worrying and try to form a more positive mindset.
Good luck to the both of us! :D
Reply
Leave a comment