Topic awaiting preservation: GAH! WHat to do! (Page 1 of 1)

I need some outside opinions here. I have several options after high school. I have no idea what to do! This is confusing:

1. Since my family has little money, I'm stuck in community college for one/two years before I can transfer (I don't want to take out loans to pay for core classes) to somewhere better. I've talked to some colleges I want to go to (NYU, Oberlin, Puget Sounds) and they say this is okay. But what about a major? None of them have ANY money involved that I want to do, so that's no problem. But I don't really know what to concentrate on.

a. political science/philosophy
b. philosophy
c. classical studies
d. literature
e. russian literature

then what to do with each:

a. pursue a PHD. This would also allow me to move to Europe if I desired.
b. get a masters, then move to san francisco/chicago/new york/back to portland (where I live) and bum around trying to find employment with something remotely related (e.g. editor). I desperately want to go to san francisco. I love that city to death.


2. Art school. SAIC and Pratt both said they liked my portfolio, and I know I could take out loans and do work study to pursue a fine arts degree.

I am confused.

(Edited by cfb on 11-14-2005 03:05)

cfb,

I am also from a poor background, and bummed out of school really badly, couldn't afford to get into any of the good schools so i never whent to Uni.

I now have a resonably well paying job, company car, and flexiable hours in an industry that i really enjoy. currently saving to open a small business.

I am currently working in the fitness industy which i now love. This would never have been my choice straight out of school as i always wanted to go to art school. My job gives me plenty of time to do the art that i love, and money to buy supplys.

However the point of my story is:
Things dont always work out as you plan, however this can sometimes be for the best.
dont stress about the choices you make, if you work hard then you'll go far in what ever field you choose to purse.

good luck!

Hmmm...

1) What is it you want to do? Do it. Lots of choices? Can't decide? Why decide - do them all.

a/b - If you desperately want to go to San Fran, why would you go elsewhere?

2) What do you get out of art school besides a paper saying people think you're good? If you got in you obviously already have talent - what would you get after enrolling? I s'pose mooching off the folks and scholarships for a couple years and just drawing would be nice, but what else would you get?

I never knew that cfb was still in high school...not until now. Wow...planning/deciding about your life is the hardest thing to do...I'm even having hard times choosing from two courses [Architecture/ Pharmacy]. I'll be off from school in about 4 days.

*Think which one you could do well and do it. You should actually need to seek for your parent's advice as we in here don't know what you're really like behind the screen.

*As what resio said earlier, "Can't decide? Why decide - do them all" even though it'll take you years and years however you'll get there anyway. If you don't want to then just have a deep thought about it 'cos it's only you who knows what you really want in life and what you want back from it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deviations | 5464 | My Poetry Cell | My Own Domain | Xanga| Support and advice needed. Now!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| "The past will always attack the present with the pain of your memories." - Seiichi Kirima |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Edited by Yannah on 11-14-2005 05:09)

quote:

---

Maruman - if you work hard then you'll go far in what ever field you choose to purse.

---

This is true. And at least you have a direction. I know when I started college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I just started going going to school and got all my basic classes out of the way. Then, once I decided on a major, I just stuck with it. And now, I am working in a completely difference field. Like Maruman said, if you strive to be the best at what you do, and you work hard, you will succeed.

And by the way, good to see your name, its been a while. I have been working a lot, and hanging out with my 2 1/2 yr old, and I also have an 11 month old. Busy, busy busy....

----| Asylum Quotes

I can't decide anything for you, but quick piece of advice since I recently went through college stuff like you seem to be doing now;

Leave ALL options open. I was shortsighted and ended up going to a place I found out that I didn't actually want to be at for my first year out of high school. Thankfully I transferred and am now at NYU studying film/tv/animation and couldn't be happier.

Also, while art schools vary, sometimes a BFA is what people want to see more than some technical certification or degree. If you can prove you have creativity (which you do I'm sure) then you can go to anywhere you want.

Good luck, I know its rough. But things work out in the end. but back to my original point; don't shut yourself out of any option. The instant you block your mind to something you *think* you wouldn't want to do, that's the instant you already missed the golden opportunities.

Follow your heart. This is especially true, when you are young and life is laying at your feet.

Dedication, will, and drive will get you far in just about any endeavor - but if you follow your heart, then you will not end up wishing you had done things in your youth when you get older; you may end up wishing you hadn't done some of the things, but that is another matter, entirely (don't worry, the human condition is one that likes to complain ).

If your heart lays in SF, then by all means, go there. You should never have to look back and say "Man, I should have done that when I had the chance!".

As for what you should do? Well, only you know yourself well enough to answer this. It sounds to me like you already know, but you are putting it off because you don't wish to leave the state of familiarity and security that you now have, for the strangeness and insecurity of the adventure that we call Life.

Welcome to Life, cfb.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

^ a wise man has spoken.

Back when the earth was cooling the thinking was a formula could be applied to one's life (actually had a name but can't remember) anyway... the basic premise was that your life could be broken down into thirds. It was put to me like this.

'... so how old are you?'
'17'
'... Well that's one- third of your life... what are you going to do with the other two-thirds'

It was generally accepted and generally the case that, you went to school for the first third... went to work at ONE job (like it or not) for the second third.... and finally... you retired...went home and died...mentally first... the body soon followed.

The 'reality' of today of course, is quite different, specifically when it comes to that 'one' job. I heard the stats recently and I think it was something like... a person graduating today can expect to hold down 4 or 5 different jobs during their life time. Like Xel said.. 'Leave ALL options open.' And I'll throw in another possible option.

Immediately attending College perhaps isn't the thing to do. You mentionrd 'editor.' I know for a fact there's more than one newspaper in Portland and you might want to consider approaching one of the smaller ones... perhaps one with a specific niche and try for a job.... even a part- time job...doing pretty much anything. Puts you in the environment of the printed word and it also presents another option.

You could still live at home (for a while!!) paying room and board OF COURSE... and on your time off and a few dollars in your pocket go and explore that city you love. I mean you can pretty much spit from Portland to SF. After a year of that, perhaps less, the light goes on... That's what I want to do.

WebS pretty much nails it when he says.. 'Follow your heart.' (especially at your age)

And as far as this is concerned... "This is confusing:" Life is confusing. If it isn't. you don't have much of one.

Choices choices choices. In my mostly befuddled state I often take comfort in the thoughts of the great philospher Buddy Hacket who once said... 'I was doing alright... until I ran into this fork in my head.'

I've read a lot of your posts cfb and for what it's worth... I think you'll do considerably better than just fine at whatever you put our hand too.

My absent mind has forgotten the actual quote from LOTR but it is Gandolf who says something like "All that you need do, is decide what to do with the time you have been given".
I totally concur with WS about following your heart. Just be sure that you actually know what it is that your heart wants. This sounds a bit obvious, so obvious in fact that it is often overlooked. Sit down with yourself, clear your mind of all other distractions and really spend some time time thinking hard about your path.
In my life, I have always kept a sort of Journal that I write in from time to time to help me order my thoughts. The act of writing these things down focus's your mind on the task in hand, helps make them a little clearer.
One rule I have for this at the outset is that the journal is strictly for no-one else to read but yourself. In this way there is no need to wonder about what others may think about your words, you know it is just for you, and you alone.
As it happens the book, journal, or "Captains Log" (heh) as I sometimes called it makes for enlightening reading years later. Those massive problems that I thought would destroy my life twenty, thirty years ago are now so pathetic that I blush remembering how upset I was at the time
Good luck setting off on another path, take your time, and think well.

::tao:::: ::cell::::::blog::::

Thank you guys =)

I think the consensus is to "follow your heart;" see, that'st he confict. I don't know exactly where my heart lies. It lies in all the categories I listed, plus art. So I have no idea; I guess ending up at a liberal arts college where I don't have to declare a major for quite a while is always a good idea.

Rrrrrrgh. See, I'm supposed to be entering "life" now; I just don't see how it's all that much different than what I've been doing, except now I'll be living in a dorm, or an apartment. And paying taxes, and whatnot. It's not that I won't be doing what I want to, I guess, because there's lots of "want to" choices, it's that I just have no idea WHAT to do. There's so many choices - desirable choices - that I wouldn't want to miss out on any of them. Which inevitably will happen.

quote:

---

Immediately attending College perhaps isn't the thing to do. You mentionrd 'editor.' I know for a fact there's more than one newspaper in Portland and you might want to consider approaching one of the smaller ones... perhaps one with a specific niche and try for a job.... even a part- time job...doing pretty much anything. Puts you in the environment of the printed word and it also presents another option.

---

I gues this is a reply to a lot of people too; if I seem underappreciating, I shouldn't. It's just my inability to communicate =p. I am very appreciative. I think I'm looking at college right after school - I like the idea of being someplace which cultivates an academic interest, and Portland really isn't the place for that. Maybe SF isn't either, or Chicago, but I'd much rather BE there than Portland. It's a rather cold city, personally, although it has its charms, and a great (i.e. cool) youth culture.

But it's not really an intellectual city.

(Edited by cfb on 11-17-2005 03:41)

I echo what Xel said.

The whole point of college, from my viewpoint, is to come to terms with what you can and what you want to do in life. It's a place and a time where you are allowed, even encouraged to change your mind. College gives you access to resources and ideas that might otherwise be difficult to come by. The most important thing though, is the time to test and try all these different fields you are interested in without (serious) penalty. Oh, and the degree gives you an objective reason to get paid.

The best advice I can give for choosing, it's already be touched upon, is to pick a place where you want to LIVE. No matter how great the school is, if you are miserable otherwise you will hate your time there. I've seen it happen to plenty of people. You can make your education great anywhere. Do it where you'll be happy.

-SPyX

Edit: I've forgotten what "cfb" stands for. Something bacon isn't it? . . . country fried bacon?. . . I dunno.

(Edited by SPyX on 11-17-2005 04:43)

quote:

---

I think the consensus is to "follow your heart;" see, that'st he confict. I don't know exactly where my heart lies.

---

cfb the problem with followin your heart is that hearts change, what interests you now may not interest you in 2 years time, whatever you decide to do you can always change down the track as your interests change.

so dont pressure yourself so much!

^ Yup.

Carpa Diem. Part of Life is realizing that you can't do everything - there just isn't enough time. It involves making big, scary decisions that may mean that you miss out of something that you wanted to do, and may lead to disaster in the worst case scenario.

One thing that you should be aware of - although there is not enoguh time to do everything, don't let that get you down. There is more time than one thinks to do most of what one wishes if one just does it, instead of putting it off and procrastinating. That should help ease your decision making somewhat.

On the other hand, making decisions opens up yet more undiscovered lands that were off your radar before. Life gives and life takes, cfb. Eventually, life will choose for you, if you find you are unable to make a decision. No-one can stop the march of time. I always found that making my own decision, instead of letting life decide for me, has always resulted in me being at least satisfied with the results - I did things my way. And I followed my heart.

Learning to hear your heart is not an easy task, but I find it gets easier with time.

Good luck.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

(Edited by WebShaman on 11-17-2005 09:24)

cfb,

Just to share a little anecdote.. I was in the same situation, did not know at all what I wanted to do. Actually, no, I wanted to do *everything*.

My interests lay all over the spectrum from Music to Math, Film to Graphic Design, Visual Effects to Art, .. It was impossible to make up my mind. Because I couldn't decide, I went looking for colleges that I thought would cater to someone like me, places that had good programs in all of the above.

It was a disaster to say the least, and I ended up setting my standards too high. I applied to 6 colleges and didn't get into my top 3, and the bottom 3 I didn't know about so well because these were my safeties. But anyways I went forward and checked out these colleges more and made a decision. I ended up going to a relatively small engineering school in Troy New York, in a program for Electronic Media Arts and Communication.. Sounded like a good program where I could do everything depending on what I wanted. They had courses that interested me.

So I went for a year, and already halfway through that year, I knew it was the wrong place for me to be. Everything there was too engineer-y, and mathematical, even in their artistic realms, which wasn't good I felt. And I found myself gravitating towards the Film/Video classes and Graphic Design, etc.. So I knew I would try and do something about it instead of sit around and applied to a couple different colleges to transfer. Anyways, I applied to NYU for their Film/TV/Animation program and got in there, and took a summer course there. Loved it so much that I had no regrets of leaving RPI except a little for the friends I was leaving behind.

Here I am towards the end of my first real semester here and so far it hasn't gotten worse and I can see light at the end of the college-tunnel, and have a bit more direction. I still don't completely know where to go, but I'd say I have narrowed it down from like 20 things to 4, or something comparitive to that.

Okay, sorry, but the purpose of all of that? It's just to show that whatever happens, there are ways to get where you need to go even if you mess up the first time. In some ways, I wasted a year.. In other ways, that was maybe the most valuable year I had, because it showed me what I *didn't* want.

So go someplace, do things, and see what you don't want anymore. It'll bring out what you do still want. No matter if you make the "right" or "wrong" decision. The only wrong decision you can make is to land somewhere you don't want to be, and then do nothing about it. I'm glad I went through what I did.

-Xel

I see where you are coming from.
Thing is, you just do not know in any way where you'll be 20 years from now, or 15, 10, 5... and you definatley don't know what paths that will take you there.

When I finished 9'th grade and went on to study more, I choose to become a car mechanic.
I had absolutely no interest what so ever for any kind of job where I didn't work with my hands.

I never did work with cars after school though, I grabbed a job where a buddy worked, thinking "this will carry me for a year or so until I find something better". As it turned out, that took 17 years...
During those years I did the following things (within the same company):

• load/unload boxcars
• build railroads
• learned to be a fireman and an ambulance driver
• worked in a printshop
• learned business economics
• got into computers
• teached windows and office
• learned how to program office
• we built one of Swedens first really advanced nationwide intranets
• and more.

After these 17 years I knew where I wanted to go in life (workwise) and stepped over full time into the I "internet business" where I've been since then. This period was between 1983 & 2000 and I'm 100% sure that I wouldn't be where I am without all these turns and twists. Every little thing you do adds to your experience even if you can see it or not at the time.

Take the boxcar loading/unloading, say someone wants me to build a cargotracking system, from that experience I got a basic understanding of how it actually works as you ship things, physically. the Business Echonomics helps me to keep focus on what parts of an application actually adds value to the customer and what's just "pretty fluff".

What I do today has absolutely no connection back to the choices I made when I was 18, my interests was different and whatever I searched for was not what I have today, except for the basic things I actually didn't know I wanted:
To get people to listen to me, respect what I do and what I've learned over time. Today I can see that this thing is the most important thing I get from my work.

I've more and more come to realize that it doesn't really matter what I do as long as I get that out of it.
Exactly what carries that sort of importance for you is something that will come over time, I really don't think there are any shortcuts.

Basically my advice to you is the following:
Use this time in your life to try different paths and interests, do different things in different places, live on a small budget to keep your freedom to learn and grow.
As you get older you will have financial obligations, family and other similar things, which while they have a very real value of their own, it will not be as easy to change the path of your life at that time.

And hey, good luck
/Dan

{cell 260} {Blog}
-{"Theories without facts are just religions...?}-

As you can read in my earlier post The Eagle has landed, R2 ready for the future i just landed on my feet knowing the road to take. When i finished highschool o went off to "Environmentally Technology" which happens to be a side path from "Food Processing Technology" After a couple off years i know this was an mistake then my life changed pretty drastically and i bummed school. There where a lot off different jobs and even more troubles to overcome. But in those years i learned what is was that i wanted. But the most important lesson i learned was thus:

"Don't wait until tomorrow, but live your life today"

So if there is something you really want to do, start making plans and make it happen as soon as posible. But be prepared to fall flat on your face and learn from that experiance. Then make other plans and make those happen to. Fall and learn and grow.

In your case, get some contacts in san francisco, try to find a job which overlaps most most things you are intrested in. Stay for about an year. Save some money for college and off you go.

Don't forget to grab opportunities when they pass along

------------------------------
Support Justice for Pat Richard

Gadzooks! I'm having the same problems as well. I jumped at the chance of becoming a machinist and took the course in my highschool. I was supposed to follow it up in the college but I never did. Most of my classmates decided it wasn't for them after a summer of work experience. I didn't enjoy it but I convinced my self that it was what I wanted. I'm back working at the shop I worked experienced for and I really don't think its for me. Although the stuff we make are pretty cool. Now I have no idea of what I'd like to do.

The advice I've read has been great. I'll try and listen to my heart. Thank you.