Sometimes, I feel like it's a little bit ridiculous to expect someone to decide what they want to do with their lives over the course of 19 years - the majority of which is spent learning basic cognitive and social skills. But the pressure starts early on. Can you remember how old you were the first time an adult asked you "So, what do you want to be when you grow up?" And have you ever noticed how children seem to have the most tenacious dreams? Whether it's wanting to grow up to be a ballerina, or a veterinarian, or a singer, or whatever else their impressionable minds can get a hold of. I think it gets more difficult as you get older because it gets scary - it gets real. Every decision is second-guessed because you're always wondering if it's the right choice: the right choice for you, or the right choice for people around you. Is it more important to do what makes you happy, or to do what pays the bills? But before you know it, you're a sophomore in college and the registrar is demanding that you place a label on your diploma. And somehow, you pick something - anything - and start your life. A few years later, there's still another question to ask yourself: Are you happy?
So, we've got the child who dreams outrageous things, and the adult who's wondering if it's too late to be a ballerina. But they're actually in similar situations. When you ask a four year old what they want to spend the rest of their life doing, they'll tell you what they know - and usually it's what makes them happy. For example, if she wants to be a ballerina, it's because she loves going to lessons. If she wants to be a scientist, it's because she follows her parents to work sometimes. If he wants to be a baseball player, it's because his dad helps him practice for rec league. You get it.
Now, when you ask an eighteen year old what they want to spend the rest of their life doing, you probably didn't notice the slight change in their facial expression when they saw it coming. You see, when a four year old tells you what they want to be, it probably isn't taken seriously - it's just so adults can fawn over how adorable he or she is. But when you ask a teenager, you're expecting a serious answer. A solid answer. Even though they're still trying to figure out if writing will pay the bills, or if they're good enough at math to be an engineer. Usually, they've got a premeditated answer. Something along the lines of "I'm thinking about majoring in [insert major]". Something noncommittal, yet sufficient. Something believable, and maybe even impressive. Or maybe they're audacious enough to tell you the truth: "I don't know yet".
But usually, the major that said teenager decides on is something that they know - whether it's because they've taken a class in high school or their freshman year of college, or it's what their parents or family friends do. But there's always some kind of background - and it's understandable. You wouldn't just close your eyes and pick a major off of a page, or choose whichever one sounds the coolest. And despite how convenient it would be, it simply isn't possible to let you test drive all fifty-something majors before you choose. You pick the one you know about. And if you find that you're miserable, you've got to start all over if happiness is your goal.
But why does it have to come down to that?
So, for everyone who's starting college these next few weeks and have no idea what the hell you want to do for the next 40 or 50 years: I'm not judging you.
Showing posts with label future. Show all posts
Showing posts with label future. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Your Spotless Instincts are Valid
College tours: Day 4, Case Western Reserve University
Some good news is that I'm actually getting used to flying - most effectively when I'm knocked out cold. The smaller planes really aren't as bad, though. We left South Bend yesterday morning around 6am and flew to Detroit, Michigan (side note, this was the only airport that played a periodical recording about looking after yourself and what to do if someone looks sketchy). Then we flew to Cleveland, Ohio and took a $45 cab ride to Case. We stayed in an on-campus hotel called the Glidden House, which used to be some old historical building that they renovated into a lovely, classy little bed and breakfast place. I called Mara in the lobby and she met us there to go for lunch. She took us downtown to a section of the city called Little Italy, a cluster of Italian restaurants down the street from campus. After lunch, she showed me her dorm room and the residential area of campus. I had been slightly worried about visiting Cleveland after all the horror stories I've heard, but I actually found the city agreeable - simpler than New York, classier than Atlanta, and of course, more exciting than Auburn (or South Bend, for that matter - but more on that later). The campus area is definitely safe - especially with four different police departments looking out for the city. I could tell my dad didn't like the city though, despite it's good qualities, like research developments and unbelievable architecture - there are buildings that are built with minimal right angles, bricks and windows curving inwards except to meet a few city code regulations - I'll try to post pictures eventually.
Today, we got up early, had breakfast at the hotel, then headed down to the Case reception.
The biggest difference I noted between the Case and Notre Dame tours is that Case was much flashier with their welcome. They gave me souvenirs, colorful pamphlets, bookstore coupons, and were just so...accommodating and welcome. Notre Dame was much quieter - much more subtle.
Which leads me to the ultimate differences between the campuses and their respective cities. Notre Dame in South Bend was located towards the very outskirts of the city. If you were walking, you could tell when the campus was getting closer because everything would drop away - buildings, restaurants, etc - and leave a vast span of green grass (the only iffy part is that the next thing you see is a few areas fenced off with barbed wire - still not entirely sure what their obsession with the stuff is). But even after that, there's a bit more of a walk before you actually get to campus buildings. Everything there was peacefully quiet - respectful, yet friendly and welcoming. And there is literally so much life - but in the form of trees and grass and flowers and whatever those birds living on the lake were (ducks or geese or swans, etc.).
Case Western in Cleveland, on the other hand was completely different. The city has life in its own way - crowded with people who are constantly pushing and learning and improving - my definition of a large city. Places like that tend to be prosperous because they put so much effort into attracting people and building new things - good, honorable intentions. My favorite thing that I took note of was a two part makeshift bus bench that was actually two concrete word cutouts that said "Change Things". However, the city is divided, as most large cities are. There are safe parts, like campus and restaurants and churches, but if you go too far past any of those things - you're in a good amount of trouble.
Another largely attractive thing about Case's developmental progress is that so much of it is open to students. There are so many programs that delegate jobs and research opportunities and travelling primarily to Case students. There is no question that opportunities are available.
It's no question that Case has a better research program - you can go from undergrad to med school or law school, or grad studies all in the same campus - most things are guaranteed, if not promised. But Notre Dame, in contrast, is largely based on faith - in more ways than one in this situation. The way I see it, graduating from Notre Dame could lead to going on to a great med school, like Hannah. I could travel and do work to help developing countries. I feel like there's so much available - but I can't see it. I have no proof that the opportunities are there for me. And what happens after Notre Dame depends on how well I do in undergrad, anyway - and there's no way I can tell what's going to happen.
While faith is something that I lack, yet aspire towards, is it really enough grounds to base a future on?
Some good news is that I'm actually getting used to flying - most effectively when I'm knocked out cold. The smaller planes really aren't as bad, though. We left South Bend yesterday morning around 6am and flew to Detroit, Michigan (side note, this was the only airport that played a periodical recording about looking after yourself and what to do if someone looks sketchy). Then we flew to Cleveland, Ohio and took a $45 cab ride to Case. We stayed in an on-campus hotel called the Glidden House, which used to be some old historical building that they renovated into a lovely, classy little bed and breakfast place. I called Mara in the lobby and she met us there to go for lunch. She took us downtown to a section of the city called Little Italy, a cluster of Italian restaurants down the street from campus. After lunch, she showed me her dorm room and the residential area of campus. I had been slightly worried about visiting Cleveland after all the horror stories I've heard, but I actually found the city agreeable - simpler than New York, classier than Atlanta, and of course, more exciting than Auburn (or South Bend, for that matter - but more on that later). The campus area is definitely safe - especially with four different police departments looking out for the city. I could tell my dad didn't like the city though, despite it's good qualities, like research developments and unbelievable architecture - there are buildings that are built with minimal right angles, bricks and windows curving inwards except to meet a few city code regulations - I'll try to post pictures eventually.
Today, we got up early, had breakfast at the hotel, then headed down to the Case reception.
The biggest difference I noted between the Case and Notre Dame tours is that Case was much flashier with their welcome. They gave me souvenirs, colorful pamphlets, bookstore coupons, and were just so...accommodating and welcome. Notre Dame was much quieter - much more subtle.
Which leads me to the ultimate differences between the campuses and their respective cities. Notre Dame in South Bend was located towards the very outskirts of the city. If you were walking, you could tell when the campus was getting closer because everything would drop away - buildings, restaurants, etc - and leave a vast span of green grass (the only iffy part is that the next thing you see is a few areas fenced off with barbed wire - still not entirely sure what their obsession with the stuff is). But even after that, there's a bit more of a walk before you actually get to campus buildings. Everything there was peacefully quiet - respectful, yet friendly and welcoming. And there is literally so much life - but in the form of trees and grass and flowers and whatever those birds living on the lake were (ducks or geese or swans, etc.).
Case Western in Cleveland, on the other hand was completely different. The city has life in its own way - crowded with people who are constantly pushing and learning and improving - my definition of a large city. Places like that tend to be prosperous because they put so much effort into attracting people and building new things - good, honorable intentions. My favorite thing that I took note of was a two part makeshift bus bench that was actually two concrete word cutouts that said "Change Things". However, the city is divided, as most large cities are. There are safe parts, like campus and restaurants and churches, but if you go too far past any of those things - you're in a good amount of trouble.
Another largely attractive thing about Case's developmental progress is that so much of it is open to students. There are so many programs that delegate jobs and research opportunities and travelling primarily to Case students. There is no question that opportunities are available.
It's no question that Case has a better research program - you can go from undergrad to med school or law school, or grad studies all in the same campus - most things are guaranteed, if not promised. But Notre Dame, in contrast, is largely based on faith - in more ways than one in this situation. The way I see it, graduating from Notre Dame could lead to going on to a great med school, like Hannah. I could travel and do work to help developing countries. I feel like there's so much available - but I can't see it. I have no proof that the opportunities are there for me. And what happens after Notre Dame depends on how well I do in undergrad, anyway - and there's no way I can tell what's going to happen.
While faith is something that I lack, yet aspire towards, is it really enough grounds to base a future on?
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