quiet disagreement

so I got a comment on my last post, saying that I should go abroad immediately, and not waste time pursueing and education I don't care about.
I think that education has some amount of purpose in and of it self, although still small, it is important to improve oneself. Also, if I left college now, that would effectively waste the money spent on it so far. I know you might say that if I am getting nothing out of it now, I am about to waste money in the form of my next two years of tuition.
But I think the real reason I will stay in college is because a college degree is a security blanket. I have really no clue what I want to do with my life. Also, I plan tentatively on using what I learn in college to better help people. As it is, if I were to go somewhere and try to help people. I would get a lot out of the experience, but I wouldn't have much to offer in return.

anyways, still sick, yet leaving for savannah anyway in about an hour prolly. so peace

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Comments

Hmmm... maybe you should see if you really like going abroad and helping the poor. You could try something short term, maybe over the summer, like say a mission trip to the Dominican Republic or something (hint, hint). Just throwing out ideas. :-)

Posted by Anonymous on March 8, 2005 05:30 PM

Hmmmm... maybe you should check out the "go abroad and help the poor" idea before you're done with college. You know, do something short-term, possibly over the summer, say like a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for a couple of weeks (hint, hint). Just throwing an idea out there... :-)

Posted by Anonymous on March 8, 2005 05:34 PM

Time to get myself a web browser that works!! (So i don't post comments twice) Oh well, it was an important one...

Posted by Anon (again) on March 8, 2005 05:39 PM

Bruce,
I agree that you should pursue your education simply for itself. To immerse yourself in learning, to develop skills in analytical reasoning, problem solving, communication, etc. will help to prepare you for anything. Whether you choose to be a goat farmer in Paraguay or a materials scientist in the U.S., the education you receive now will prepare you to continually evolve in your chosen field(s).

I majored in Philosophy, found a career in marketing and am now developing web pages. All this despite certain hiring managers who looked at me as though I had two heads while they asked, "What did you think you were going to do with a philosophy degree? Why didn't you major in business?"

I studied philosophy because I found it interesting, and my parents believed a liberal arts foundation would give me a broader foundation than would a vocation-oriented major, esp. if I wasn't interested in the latter.

Like you, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated. So instead of deciding on a specific field, I've just gravitated towards things that keep me amused and require me to think both creatively and logically.

I think if you keep an open-mind and keep exploring new ideas you will find your path, whether here or abroad. Good luck and have a super time down south.

Posted by cool on March 8, 2005 06:45 PM

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