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First of all, I want to thank those of you who helped me with my Windows boot problem in my previous blog.
I was going to write some deep personal blog about life. But, I thought it would be better to be straight forward. I'll be honest; I'm not where I saw myself 5 years ago.
I did poorly in HS partly because I wasn't ready for the material and mainly because I was too scared to ask anyone for help. I did poorly in Math classes but excelled in some material like Social Science/English. If it wasn't for summer school/night school I wouldn't have graduated on time.
I've recently graduated from CC and will be transferring to University this spring to finish an undergraduate degree in Philosophy. While, I love reading and discussing Philosophy, I do realize that there's no career in it besides teaching, if I go that far and I'm not planning on Law School. I do, however, plan on Graduate school, if I can make the grades... That's still history that's left to be written.
However, I'm 21 and I have no employment. Aside from an A in Arts, decent computer knowledge, and the ability to work a cash register, even then that's a maybe... It was a while ago. I have no marketable skills.
Due to my own idiocy of not paying my entire balance back at the CC I was unable to make the fall semester at Uni. Therefore, I thought next the best thing for fall semester would be to go back to CC and take some computer classes. I'm taking a Microsoft Access course that covers it front/back and by the time the semester is over I'll have completed a basic certificate in Computer Information Systems from the City College Network here in Chicago. I also have an XHTML for Dummies book in my room that I plan on reading and hopefully help me learn to web code.
On text it feels like I've been doing well, yet why is it I feel like I'm in a rut? Is it because I always had such high standards for myself even though I can be the laziest piece of shit sometimes?
I want to become a better person. I want to be able to get up in the morning and feel like I have purpose besides being there for my gf, family and friends. I just want to become a better person. I thought about doing this after the New Year, but after thinking about it I realized that I need to start now.
How do I...
1. Learn to code/develop websites? (My XHTML book will come in handy but it's rather old and I could use more reference.
2. Learn poker?
3. Lose weight and become a healthier person?
4. Achieve self enlightenment?(or at least something close to it)
Before the year is over.
I know what some of you might be saying. Google it and you'll find everything you'll need. But maybe, it isn't about knowing what I have to do, but rather about having the support of people/hearing their own stories on how they got out of the rut.
Any advice or help would be appreciated.
Something’s gotta give
 
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United States24768 Posts
A question I think needs answering for us to understand you better (don't take this as a judgmental question... just to give perspective)
Why did you choose to get a degree in philosophy? Of course you already said you like philosophy. Any other reason?
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Join the club! I'm only 17 and graduated from high school last year, but I too am trying to find my "zen" in life and become a generally better person as well. I've been generally a pretty lazy person, but I've been trying to break old habits and become a more socially active person as well as "become more constructive" with my time.
As far as your 4-point "to do" list, I know nothing regarding poker (planning on learning down the road but I don't want to end up becoming some kind of poker addict), but as far as HTML/PHP/etc goes and coding websites theres a ton of information on sites such as Google, but also Reddit! Coming out of high school I wanted to become a programmer but was turned off after trying to teach myself C++ with the help of books (which rushed things very fast and bored me to death). This led to be finding a really nice interactive, slow-paced guide on Reddit which allows me to learn at a comfortable pace and ask redditers (super friendly!) any questions I may have, and as a result I have a completely rekindled love/passion for programming! (I'm a math guy, though  ). You definitely need the will to learn though as it's easy to get discouraged when your head turns to mush from taking so much information in!
For losing weight and becoming a healthier person, it's all about your willingness to actually try to change. For years I've told myself I've wanted to get fit and never really got around to it, but going to the gym with buddies and such makes it a lot more enjoyable and allows you to push each other to achieve your goals. As far as eating healthy goes, just limit fast food and take up cooking (if you don't know much), as it's a good skill to have and allows you to make amazing food (no more grilled cheese sandwiches and kraft dinner!) with fresh ingredients and and great flavor, which is bound to be healthier than frozen dinners and Big Macs. If you want inspiration, watch the Food Network for a week on TV!
Self enlightenment really depends on what you view it as (I'm Catholic on behalf of my parents decisions but I threw my "beliefs" out the window fairly early in my life, hehe), but to me it's all about feeling good about yourself and living a life you want to and CAN live. Instead of putting stuff off, set some time for them and actually do them! Instead of constantly thinking down on yourself for being "overweight" and eating unhealthy, saddle up some motivation (it's hard, I know!) and actually make an effort to change.
I know first hand it's easy to sit around and procrastinate and do jack all, but you'll feel infinitely better when you make an effort to become that person YOU want to be!
Hope this helps!
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On October 23 2010 13:18 micronesia wrote:
A question I think needs answering for us to understand you better (don't take this as a judgmental question... just to give perspective)
Why did you choose to get a degree in philosophy? Of course you already said you like philosophy. Any other reason?
To be completely honest, I didn't think I had what it took to finish an undergraduate degree in Computer Science or Biology back when I first entered College. I was scared I wouldn't be able to handle Calculus or any other college level math, so I made the slacker choice of going into Liberal Arts(which at my uni only requires a basic math course) and picking philosophy which I enjoyed.
To answer the question in a more direct sense, however, I feel that a philosopher is about the closest thing someone can be to being a "complete human being". I'm not trying to demean someone who doesn't enjoy philosophy or finds it important, I just always attained a feeling of immense satisfaction from reading great minds like Plato, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzche, etc...
These were people that were willing to ask questions/talk about ideas that most were afraid of and I have such intense respect for that.
Edit: Fixed some grammar/spelling errors. I really need to write more often..
Graham, thanks for your words of encouragement and your own personal story. I was raised Roman Catholic and abandoned my faith during my early adolescence as well. As far as your advice in regards to programming, I think I'll go that way and I might actually take computer courses at the local CC even after college.
I feel like I need structure and deadlines or else it will be easy to stray.. yet that's what I need to fix to begin with. It also doesn't hurt that it's $87 a credit hour and they have a decent selection of computer classes(web development, intro to C++, intro to Java, etc..).
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You got your health a gf, family, and friends... what else could you possible want?
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On October 23 2010 14:07 Beloth(OD) wrote:
You got your health a gf, family, and friends... what else could you possible want?
I never said I wasn't thankful for that. I realize how fortunate I am to have all these things, but yet is it wrong of me to try to attain something more?
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On October 23 2010 14:14 Mickey wrote:Show nested quote +On October 23 2010 14:07 Beloth(OD) wrote:
You got your health a gf, family, and friends... what else could you possible want? I never said I wasn't thankful for that. I realize how fortunate I am to have all these things, but yet is it wrong of me to try to attain something more?
I guess its not wrong to want more, maybe a little greedy j/k. I'm just curious how your not satisfied with that, maybe it just me, but that is all I desire, maybe it would be different for me too if I attain it some day...
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I would say that if you are trying to get your life back on track, learning poker may not necessarily be the best route to take to get there. Of course if you turn out to be brilliant at it you can always discard your higher level education and just play poker as a source of income, but you may get sucked into the black hole of spending loads of time trying to do better and not necessarily getting anywhere, since poker is extremely time consuming.
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Dude if youre interested in philosophy go for it! It's a really neat field and even though teaching is then only career path you get to explore really cool concepts of human thought. I'd go for that without a doubt. And whenever you get up feeling purposless just think "I have my gf, my family, my friends and I'm a philosopher mofos"
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I majored in Philosophy as well but I also took Chinese classes. (2005 UGA)
Now I live in China and teach Literature at an International Highschool.
You gotta take chances in life. But most of the time the "best luck" you ever had can only be seen in hindsight. Just do what you will. That should be the only law.
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On October 23 2010 16:00 Meapak_Ziphh wrote:
Dude if youre interested in philosophy go for it! It's a really neat field and even though teaching is then only career path you get to explore really cool concepts of human thought. I'd go for that without a doubt. And whenever you get up feeling purposless just think "I have my gf, my family, my friends and I'm a philosopher mofos"
I always try to maintain a positive attitude towards anything and as I've said I'm grateful for my health & loved ones. Thank you!
On October 23 2010 16:06 Redunzl wrote:
I majored in Philosophy as well but I also took Chinese classes. (2005 UGA)
Now I live in China and teach Literature at an International Highschool.
You gotta take chances in life. But most of the time the "best luck" you ever had can only be seen in hindsight. Just do what you will. That should be the only law.
Thank you for the kind words. I agree that we have to follow what we love and I'll continue doing that. Congratulations on your career! =)
Question regarding Poker. What's the best way to practice online?(Wouldn't be playing with money, just to practice).
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EPT
