I seem to take an Occam's Razor approach to overwhelming subjects like these. I had worked out the squicky feelings I had post-drop out and found that even in the face of all I've learned, I didn't need to be pressured to apply all of it at once. There's a time for everything--also says King Solomon, if I'm correct.
The most important knowledge you apply should be the knowledge that drives why you even decide to operate on a daily basis. You said you had a goal, and goals are lovely. I think the essential question is if the realization of that goal is essential to your happiness. If it's not, then it's up to you whether or not it's worth it to follow through. If it is (i.e the application of knowledge), try what an English professor of mine suggested as one of her core principles for writing academic papers: narrow your scope. Discover the core of what you want to do with this knowledge and go from there. And it's perfectly okay if that doesn't happen by tomorrow, or the next day either.
There's a writing book by Anne Lammot called "Bird by Bird". The title comes from an experience her brother had when he was a kid. He had to finish a report on birds, and had to compile so much information he was overwhelmed. But her father put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "Just take it bird by bird, buddy." Things tend to unfold in increments anyway. Life is lived day by day.
In my honest opinion, I have faith in time as much as I have faith in God. I find that with patience, things come into play in their own time. Maybe when you're out of college you won't be able to apply everything you've learned right there are then, but there'll be situations that will likely call upon it--so each to its own place then. At least, that's how it's happened from my experience. This may seem trivial, but I'd abandon fic and lament losing all desire to continue it, only to find a few seasons later I had to discover something else for the fic to finally come to fruition. Or a book would collect dust on my shelf for months and I'd lament that I wasn't utilizing it right away, only for time to pass and suddenly, out of the blue, that particular subject became more interesting to me than ever. So I'd pick the book up and read it to the end with gusto.
In short, everything has its own day. I'm sure everything you seek to accomplish will too (even if it takes time to figure out exactly what you want to accomplish).
The most important knowledge you apply should be the knowledge that drives why you even decide to operate on a daily basis. You said you had a goal, and goals are lovely. I think the essential question is if the realization of that goal is essential to your happiness. If it's not, then it's up to you whether or not it's worth it to follow through. If it is (i.e the application of knowledge), try what an English professor of mine suggested as one of her core principles for writing academic papers: narrow your scope. Discover the core of what you want to do with this knowledge and go from there. And it's perfectly okay if that doesn't happen by tomorrow, or the next day either.
There's a writing book by Anne Lammot called "Bird by Bird". The title comes from an experience her brother had when he was a kid. He had to finish a report on birds, and had to compile so much information he was overwhelmed. But her father put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "Just take it bird by bird, buddy." Things tend to unfold in increments anyway. Life is lived day by day.
In my honest opinion, I have faith in time as much as I have faith in God. I find that with patience, things come into play in their own time. Maybe when you're out of college you won't be able to apply everything you've learned right there are then, but there'll be situations that will likely call upon it--so each to its own place then. At least, that's how it's happened from my experience. This may seem trivial, but I'd abandon fic and lament losing all desire to continue it, only to find a few seasons later I had to discover something else for the fic to finally come to fruition. Or a book would collect dust on my shelf for months and I'd lament that I wasn't utilizing it right away, only for time to pass and suddenly, out of the blue, that particular subject became more interesting to me than ever. So I'd pick the book up and read it to the end with gusto.
In short, everything has its own day. I'm sure everything you seek to accomplish will too (even if it takes time to figure out exactly what you want to accomplish).
And sorry for talking your ear off.
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