I was about 5 when I was injured on an ill-designed swing set. Someone had to pay for my injuries and right then I decided I would profit off of others injuries as well. :laugh:
Originally posted by: RKS
I was about 5 when I was injured on an ill-designed swing set. Someone had to pay for my injuries and right then I decided I would profit off of others injuries as well. :laugh:
Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
I'm 26. I've never known what I really wanted to do, even once I graduated from university. I found out about a technical writing program at a local technical school, so I completed that program and now I'm a technical writer.
It's ok, but I won't be doing it for the rest of my life.
I plan to work for another year or so in this job, then take off traveling again. Long-term I want to work for an NGO or some company where my work will actually make a real difference in people's lives and in communities. Just working for profit seems kind of empty...I dunno, call me an idealist, but that's how I feel.
Originally posted by: scorpious
This is not necessarily job. You may have realized at age 12 that for the rest of your life, you would be content with sorting spoons on a leather sofa.
Please post your age and any of the following:
a) what you knew you wanted to do
b) if you haven't found it, please state so
c) if you know it, but aren't doing it, please state so
I'm 22 and while I think acting could be really fun, I also tend to think that about a lot of careers. Sometimes I wish I had a clear cut path to call my own.
Originally posted by: irishScott
Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
I'm 26. I've never known what I really wanted to do, even once I graduated from university. I found out about a technical writing program at a local technical school, so I completed that program and now I'm a technical writer.
It's ok, but I won't be doing it for the rest of my life.
I plan to work for another year or so in this job, then take off traveling again. Long-term I want to work for an NGO or some company where my work will actually make a real difference in people's lives and in communities. Just working for profit seems kind of empty...I dunno, call me an idealist, but that's how I feel.
Go back to college and get an Engineering degree. Then you can get all idealistic about helping people and make the (relatively) big bucks.
Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Originally posted by: irishScott
Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
I'm 26. I've never known what I really wanted to do, even once I graduated from university. I found out about a technical writing program at a local technical school, so I completed that program and now I'm a technical writer.
It's ok, but I won't be doing it for the rest of my life.
I plan to work for another year or so in this job, then take off traveling again. Long-term I want to work for an NGO or some company where my work will actually make a real difference in people's lives and in communities. Just working for profit seems kind of empty...I dunno, call me an idealist, but that's how I feel.
Go back to college and get an Engineering degree. Then you can get all idealistic about helping people and make the (relatively) big bucks.
LOL, except that as I stated, I really don't care about making huge amounts of money. I'm a pretty frugal person.
Oh, and despite being tutored in high school and university, I suck total ass at mathematics. I simply can't wrap my head around it; I'm a linguistic person instead. I wouldn't even be accepted to an Engineering program.
I considered going for a Master's degree in Technical Communication - I may still do that, but I'm undecided for now. I'm picking up individual courses on the company's dime to improve my skill set.
Originally posted by: irishScott
To each their own. For me the money isn't attractive in and of itself. I spend more than most 21 year olds, but 90% of what I buy has a specific, practical and generally long-term use. The other 10% is usually cheap.
Case in point: over the last year I've really gotten into backpacking/outdoorsy stuff and have consequently bought about $2000 worth of gear. None of it's frivolous, I just got the best bang-for-the-buck I could find. Only thing I really splurged on was my emergency GPS beacon, ($600) but that's an exception as if I ever have to use such a device, I want nothing but the absolute best.
Suffice to say a good salary will allow me to continue said lifestyle. I have no intention of ever owning a mansion or a yacht or any such shit. Small boat and kayak wouldn't be out of the question though.
Granted this will all change if I decide to go USAF, but the I imagine the experience I'd get out of that would be worth it.
In any case, I'd say go for the masters. Pay bump notwithstanding, I would think it'd open a few more doors.
Originally posted by: InflatableBuddha
Originally posted by: irishScott
To each their own. For me the money isn't attractive in and of itself. I spend more than most 21 year olds, but 90% of what I buy has a specific, practical and generally long-term use. The other 10% is usually cheap.
Case in point: over the last year I've really gotten into backpacking/outdoorsy stuff and have consequently bought about $2000 worth of gear. None of it's frivolous, I just got the best bang-for-the-buck I could find. Only thing I really splurged on was my emergency GPS beacon, ($600) but that's an exception as if I ever have to use such a device, I want nothing but the absolute best.
Suffice to say a good salary will allow me to continue said lifestyle. I have no intention of ever owning a mansion or a yacht or any such shit. Small boat and kayak wouldn't be out of the question though.
Granted this will all change if I decide to go USAF, but the I imagine the experience I'd get out of that would be worth it.
In any case, I'd say go for the masters. Pay bump notwithstanding, I would think it'd open a few more doors.
I think that's cool that you're getting into backpacking/outdoors/camping. You don't have to justify those expenses - if it makes you happy and you can still afford your other basic expenses, do it. You'll learn a lot of valuable skills, you'll be getting in touch with nature and you'll have a lot of fun. Of course the required gear costs money, but as long as you take care of it, you'll get a lot of use out of it.
I'm not interested in mansions or fancy cars either, although some people are. I prefer to spend my money on traveling (oh, and race entries and a steady supply of running shoes ).
My point was that if I choose to pursue further education, it will be for the knowledge I gain, and skills that will allow me to expand my career, or embark on a different career path, which leads to new objectives. Those rewards will give me more fulfillment than greater earning power will. (Not to say that I wouldn't accept a small pay increase; it's just not my primary objective.)
As for the master's program, I need to work more first. The average student in that program is 34 with 9 years work experience; I'm 26 with only 2 years work experience). I would get more out of the program after I have a bit more work experience.
If you want to go into the USAF, go for it while you're still young. I'm sure it will be great experience. Would you qualify for financial assistance for further education or other expenses after serving in the Air Force?
Originally posted by: irishScott
Yeah I know. Unfortuantely I'm forced to defend every expense my parents know about, even if I'm using my personal savings, so I tend to wax defensive in financial discussions. Just another 2.5 years to freedom. That will be awesome.
As for the Air Force, yeah'll they'll foot the educational bill post-service. The issue there is that the minimum tour is 4 years, and I'd probably want to go ROTC, which would require at least another 3 years. So I'm looking at a 7 year minimum commitment, during which I'd probably forget anything from my current engineering degree and would have to re-learn it when I got out. I'll be 22 come November, so even if I joined the ROTC next semester I'd be 29 when I got out. That's 90% of my 20s. Not sure I want to make that sort of commitment when I'm still equally interested in almost everything else.
So I'm trying to play a Jack-of-all-master-of-engineering thing in the meantime.
As for the travel, I hear you there. Nice thing about living on the Mid-Atlantic East Coast. Every backpacking trip includes a road-trip by default.
As for the masters program, shit. Maybe I'm just naive here, but 9 years made my eyes pop. Good luck.
Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Once I build this I'm good to go.
http://www.nra.co.za/content/apu73.jpg