I feel so excited today!! I'm going to .... . .. ... sign my emails with "Thanks!" instead of "Thanks,"
Another unintentionally long lunch hour later (I'm using "hour" very loosely here), I'm feeling pretty sad about this whole shabang. See, one of the upsides of working with newly graduated students instead of 40+ y/o's in your team is that a) we can go drinking where they tell me things they otherwise would not and b) I can actually somewhat relate as their current reality can be mine in the not-too-distant future
And what is their current reality? A new hire just came in and was telling us about her 1-2 month trip to Europe immediately after graduation before starting this job.. a tradition that seems fairly common as others chipped in with their experiences of doing the exact same thing (albeit in different cities). Then one person, relatively new, mentions how he hadn't had a chance to do that as the job was lined up before graduation.
"Aww, you really missed out. You won't get a chance to do it anymore as you can't really take 2 months off work just like that." "That's not true, X took 3 months off a few years back" "Yeah, but she's been with the firm, for what, like 20 years?" "I guess... anyway--"
And the conversation went on. Except I went quiet. That kind of hit me like a bombshell there. It's not that I didn't know about the reality, but having it said by people who weren't even 25 (aka only a few years older than me) made something really hit home.
Do I even want this?
Giving up so much for stability.. which is another word for boredom. I could understand the need when you're 40+, supporting a family, etc. but when you're younger than 25? Seriously?
Shit.
I know there's quite a few others on TL who are in grad/med/law schools, who have just started or are aiming for the corporate path.. what do you think? Have you thought about it? Tell me I'm not insane for not wanting to be so constrained so early on. What's the alternative though?
I mean really, I was joking with a friend about the purpose of life and all that, and pulled out Zaphod Beeblerox's line: "My main purpose in life is to have a wonderfully good time". After which, I actually thought it was an elegant and simple solution to this whole mess and have been following it to the best of my ability this summer.. haha but on a slow day at work this stuff just pops up in my head and I feel a need to write it down
I guess this is sort of similar to my confused student entry, which for whatever reason, wasn't received as well as say.. cornify . I imagine fun stuff is more .. fun to read about! xD who woulda thunk it.
I'll get some fun stuff next time, I promise ^_^ no shortage of that here~~
I love my girlfriend. I love another friend, but we probably will never be together ever. I love Mum even though she's not around anymore. I love TeamLiquid. I despise society and its bandwagon mindset.
I hate hypocrites, so I hate myself.
The meaning of life - You are a mutant, a creature too intelligent for its own good. You are born thinking you will make it, you are meant to make it, your life has a purpose.
Contrary to that, you don't have a purpose for existing besides the natural breeding instincts that humans are endowed with. You create your own purpose. But in the end, that purpose has to serve your needs, or you will fail at life.
So you work towards your created purpose. You strive. You work for sustenance. It will never end. You work and you die.
Kinda "ugh", isn't it, this cycle? Fortunately and unfortunately, we are also endowed with emotions. Hence love and hence hate. Hence epic and hence fail. Hence Boxer and hence Yellow. Bisu and Jaedong. What will you do about it?
Boxer didn't give up on his passion.
Giving up so much for stability.. which is another word for boredom
Boxer's job is quite stable. Other progamers though, have problems especially if they cannot rise and achieve victory.
Have you thought about it? Tell me I'm not insane for not wanting to be so constrained so early on. What's the alternative though?
The alternative is to strike out on your own. To do what Boxer did. To be like Boxer. To dominate. To turn out results. Our society is one that demands results and frowns on the nonproductive. You are never insane. To admit you are insane is to admit your limitations. If Boxer had admitted his insanity, we would not have Starcraft today.
The question now is -
How do you strike out on your own, for your passion?
And
Are you willing to pursue your passion and dreams, or do you prefer the boring comfort of your stable job? Would you rather be doing what you want to do and feeding yourself off it or do you think the inertia of stability is too bothersome to overcome?
I think it's perfectly natural to *not* want to be tied into a full time job / career path type situation before the age of 25. It's like the prime time of your life to travel imo, and I can't wait till I finish uni in November and get to do just that!
You're not insane in the slightest. That or I'm also insane, along with many of my friends.
It is absolutely natural to want to keep your days light and options open, but keep in mind that after college is over you inevitably start losing some options.
If you choose to half-assed go to grad school for many years, you will most likely no longer have the option of a successful career. You need to make a "jump" every 5-10 years to have a shot to get to the top. Or learn enough early on to strike it on your own. Delay this too much & you will be severely behind: nobody will hire a 30 year old to do a 22 year old's job. Plus, you will find it very hard to keep up with the crazy schedule required early on in many careers (law firms, banking, medical field during residency, etc. etc.).
Same thing applies to relationships. (Still, men have more wiggle room than women.)
No answers here, just a few things to consider. Basically, when deciding what to do, try to think of what you will wish you would have done when you will be 50. The happiness of the "future you" should matter some in your decisions.
I've been thinking about this a lot. I think you really have to focus hard on what you want out of life, and be specific. If you want freedom, well, freedom to do what? If you just want to travel, maybe you can find a job that let's you do that. But really I think people just want fun and excitement in their life, and you can find ways to do that in almost any circumstances.
EPT
. I imagine fun stuff is more .. fun to read about! xD who woulda thunk it.
