Posted Oct. 12, 2010 by Rex Jaime
What to do? what to do? Tough times call for tough decisions in this US economy. Just thinking of the sacrifices my parents made for me to go to college makes me want to remind others some of the sacrifices they should consider making for their kids. You don’t want to place a cap on potential by not giving them a start. Economics are a reality, but it can all be manageable. If you steer your kids to take the route of less resistance to pursue money instead of passions their talents support, you may be ending a promising career prematurely. Imagine Ken Burns a manager at Starbucks instead of an award winning documentary film director. As a kid it was easy to take a job hook-up from a friend and just be there for a really really long time before I realized, my time can be better spent doing something worthwhile…
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I totally agree with you. However, for me, I felt the focus was to finish school. Therefore, I screwed myself over by not participating so much in things I wanted to do.
I realize now that I tend to do what *I* think others want me to do. So, I’m stuck in a job I hate and not really sure what I’m good at.
I’ve never taken a piano lesson, participated in organized athletic sports or even academic activities. I feel so lost but trying to get back on the path.
Flag thisSometimes it takes experiencing it to know that’s what it is. There is always tons of pressure to please others. But once you realize this is not what you want to do, try things that interest you. It may be hard with the obligations you saddle yourself with picking a direction, but you just have to force things sometimes.
I never traveled outside the country on my own and didn’t know much about it other than being fascinated with it. I did it. Maybe in a bigger way than affordable to most in these times, but I tried it, tried it on my own, and it opened me up to many more things I had not known, or planned on learning.
I learned a ton about myself, about others, and the reality that there are tons of options, and plenty of time to pursue it as long as you don’t let needless baggage get in the way. Many times we come out of school expecting to execute a plan that is suppose to be the golden path and you find out that what people sell you as truth is no more than a perception. Ignorant or not, it’s their’s and not yours. But, it’s alright because you find out…you live you learn and then you set yourself up with an approach for better opportunities.
Flag thisHi Rex,
This is so true. Parents commonly make the mistake of guiding/pressuring their kids to be a lawyer or doctor because of its prestige and salary level rather than encouraging their kids to ‘look within’, increase their self-knowledge—-discover, find, explore their talents and passion in life.
As Steve Jobs has advised graduates again and again to work at something you love rather than chasing the money.
Sincerely,
Flag thisDennis B.
I was drawn by the hnoetsy of what you write
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