Number23 said:

That picture is offensively large.

Iam on some silly media studies degree and i fucking hate the subject now. The media industry is horrible to me. And yes its an easy subject and all, but the passion is gone for me.


Iam happy cleaning out offices to be honest. I may finish my course in media and get the degree, but I don't really want to pursue it.

My mother wanted me to be a successful Tennis player and my father wanted me to get into the family biz....Pimpin...

I tried to appease both and make a new career path...Tennis Pimp...I used my mother's favorite player's name John McEnroe and called myself "John Smackahoe"
It proved to not be a good career move...nobody liked getting Tennis smacked by a racket...

Number23 said:

I don't know, I've just always had plenty of stories in my head. It's a passion of mine. When I was a kid I used to draw and write comics, when I got a little older I recorded stories on tape and gave them to friends. Since then I've tried everything from filmmaking to journalism to screenwriting to playwriting to plain old fiction writing. I just love to tell stories that's all, and when I'm given a decent chance to do that (preferably in my own language) I usually do it quite well, and sometimes I even do it really really well.

I have been able to make a living doing it in the past, but it's only been for a few months or a year or two each time. It's a tough market for sure.

Spookymuffin said:

Wee Billy does look to be in the latter stages of an attempt to emancipate himself from my kecks. You can count my pubes, Christ. That material looks pensionable trying to contain my winkle.

Nope, far from it. I kinda wanted to be an analyst/therapist, but that changed after my first semester. I was enamoured with Math (filling the requirement), decided I'd work towards electrical engineer. You get the picture: every semester I was either dejected by not being good at what had previously inspired me or inspired by some new calling. So I quit school and got an entry-level job in IT (Tape Ape). So I agree with your advice about things not ending the same way they started.

After feeling I'd been promoted about as far as I could, I quit and went back to school, this time to get a cert for k-8 education. I didn't finish that either! It seemed like an inspired idea, but you get to hear a lot of teachers complain about the pinch between what they paid for their education and what they get for a salary. After awhile, inspiration gave way to common sense.

I'm now back in IT.

retina said:

Your tree's branches are twisted in a dizzyingly similar fashion to my own circumstance. Only I would have felled a ancient oak with pretention and ego weighted on every leaf. What I'm saying is, you're still humble enough to make it and I'm crap with metaphors.

Number23 said:

an ancient oak

Number23 said:

That doesn't surprise me at all, actually.



Oh I have a fair share of that kind of weight too, as I'm sure you know. At times enough to crush a skyscraper. I'm on a diet though.



Nah, I like your metaphors. And I think we can both make it. Time is still on our side, and even more so on yours than on mine.

.

sextonseven said:

same, last 2 years in high school I did graphic techniques/design, then went to uni and got a bachelor of arts degree in graphic design. Been a graphic designer since 1991. I can't imagine doing anything else.

Number23 said:

Is that pooh that was run over by the pirate shipt in the far lower right hand corner?

When I graduated from high school (1973) the only choices for women were: teacher, secretary, nurse, homemaker. Unless you came from a wealthy family or an "A" student with scholarships, the only alternative was the local jr. college.
I chose to be an RN and it was the best decision. Worked 2 jobs, supported myself thru an associate's degree. The sky was the limit as there's always nursing shortages nation wide. Not to mention I love taking care of people.
Thought I wanted to be an architect in my late 20's and took classes at the local university only to discover it's a 5 year program followed by a 3 year internship after which I'd be making less than my salary as a nurse. It would take 10 years minimal to get ahead. Decided to stick with what I enjoy doing.

If unsure, one can attend a junior college in the states and take general ed classes. I don't think Europe has the same system.

Yes.

E-technology Management, MBA.

Pretty much what I'm doing now.

I have no education.

CarrieMpls said:

Imago said:

I don't need no piece of paper saying I know stuff.


Naw, I had to drop out partway through my first year cause I couldn't afford it and my parents made too much money for me to get any financial aid and they said they'd help me if I needed it and when I needed it they didn't have it. And I never went back. I keep meaning to and somehow it never happens. ah well.

CarrieMpls said:

Does your job offer tuition assistance?
There's probably a University of Phoenix campus in your city. It's an acredited degree and structured in an adult program where you only go for one night a week.
Great program.

Imago said:

I've looked into weekend college, but the institutions here that offer it (or similar programs) are REALLY expensive. I was planning to start at Minneapolis community college just to get back in the swing of things, but life (read: travel plans) always seem to get in the way. I just haven't really committed myself to it.
I'll check out University of Phoenix.

I was a philosophy major. Not a big job market in that area.

CarrieMpls said:

In UK, you just get a loan and thats it. Isn't it like that in the US? I didn't have to pay anything thanx to my parents income bracket, or lack of it

thesexofit said:

In the position I'm in now, yes, I would qualify for a loan. At the time, though, I didn't and my parents wouldn't cosign one for me. I didn't know what I was doing and I didn't have anyone around to help me figure it out.

I'll go back soon.

CarrieMpls said:

Cool. In UK, you don't have to pay them back until you get a good enough job after the course is over. As i have dropped out (well I probably will), they may want their money back sooner? Iam not sure whats going to happen, but at least it won't be like i owe a credit card company, or at least, I hope the loans people are not like that.

senik said:

That's good advice. Does he have the choice of general studies for the first year or two? There's no saying you can't have a couple of degrees eventually.
Or pull a Shelly and get your degree by going sporatically, though I don't recommend it. There's no one path to sucess or happiness. He needs to try things until he finds his talent. We usually have a small window of time when we can pursue the areas that we are passionate about before all the responsibilities of life take over. However it's never too late to change your lifepath if you really want to.
I'm probably going to be one of those people who get their Phd when they're 75. I plan on always being a student of some sort.
I always, always knew I wanted to write and music is as essential as air. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be able to put them together and work in music promotion. This is such an amazing kick to be in on the ground floor of all of this right now. I don't know how long I'm going to stick with it but for now I'm happy and yes, I use a lot of what I studied but not everything. Learning just for the sake of knowing is wonderful too.

I am currently getting an advanced degree at the University of Phoenix Online. It's really intense especially with a full and part-time job, but so far I love it! It's very convenient compared to actually having to find time in my busy schedule to actually go to an on-site campus. But it's quite expensive though.

purplerein said:

As the old cliche goes, never assume anything, when one assumes all it does is make an ass - out of - U & Me! I am quite articulate and can hold my own in the circles of academia, just ask the orgers I meet next weekend.

I've got a BA in Journalism...was a reporter for a while and now do communications for a healthcare system...so, yes, I am working in my chosen field of study.
Currently I am working on two associates degrees -- one in print graphic design and one in Web design.

Both will relate to my bachelors degree as well as to my career.

Number23 said:

are you a freelance journalist? do you work in Scotland? ever heard of Jay Richardson?

For anyone in college and thinking of dropping out.....DON'T unless you have a dire emergency or better opportunities. Change majors, anything... It's a hell of alot harder to go back to school esp after marriage, kids, later in life.
Even if you stay single, it's tough.
When I thought I wanted to try architecture in my late 20's my fellow students were spry 18-20 year olds. I felt really,really old. It was hard keeping up with the pace working and raising children.
In the US a few years back, it was realized doctors and lawyers weren't paying back their student loans. The government got after them. I had no sympathy. I paid mine back a year after graduation.

xplnyrslf said:

Could not agree more. Education in an investment that can never be taken away from you. Even if you don't like your major, at least get a degree--an Associates or finish trade school--anything. My sis-in-law dropped out a month before getting her Associates b/c she decided she didn't like her major. She has had a hard time finding a job that pays more than a low hourly wages and minimal benefits; which then puts more strain on my brother. Nowdays I feel like having a Bachelors Degree is equivalent to what having a HS diploma for my grandparents/parents generation.