Did you know that:
* Gerard Butler has a law degree?
* Edward Norton is a history graduate?
* Hugh Laurie studied anthropology?
* Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton studied medicine?
It is not just about artists, of course. Most of us find a university degree useful. Let’s face it, even if we don’t like our degree, a BA at least gives us a minor degree of security and gets our parents off our backs. My dad would feel more comfortable if I worked for a corporation rather than for myself. But he can’t fight with my rationalization:
“Dad, I studied Advertising and Business, I have work experience and my CV is pretty OK for a 25-year-old. There is not a better time to follow my dreams (which are about earning a full-time income as a writer ((writing whatever I want)). It is not just my dad who is surprised at my chosen path of career. Even though everybody knew I wrote all the time, they believed I would write in my free time while I got a nice office gig. Well, the idea didn’t sound half-bad until I actually went out and got an office job. I hated it and none of my friends has yet to find a job they enjoyed. They find freelancing scary and most see my educational background irrelevant. Right! Like a background in marketing would never helped a writer.
I just finished writing a series of articles for an online publication. Subject? Business tips. Stuff I learned 5 years ago. But obviously, not everyone wants to or needs to use their major. So as far as relevance go, I am not doing badly. My friends mostly have other stories though:
– I have a friend who graduated from civil engineering and is working for a record company. He also works as a DJ in his part-time. He couldn’t be happier.
– Another friend graduated from biology and although she would rather work in a lab or as an assistant teacher, she is making a decent income, has over a year of experience in sales and she just got a company car. I can’t say her biology training never comes in handy. It is just not used in the way she imagined it.
– Another friend is working as a TA but she miserable with the professor who just prevents any sort of personal or professional progress for her.
– Another civil engineer is working as one and hates his hours and would rather work 9 to 5 for a bank as a consultant for buildings. Yeah, that’s not exactly what he had in mind in college….
Frankly, I could on forever. Why we feel we need to or want to take different paths is a different issue. Maybe it is the subject for another article. But after I met an MBA student with a BA in sociology, I decided it was time to write this article.
How about you? Your friends? Is their work-related to their education? Are they happy or dissatisfied with this? What about the people you’ve recently met?
Hi.. obviously most of us have dropped our dreams on the way… I have had a dream of working in a cute lab with my chem. and getting my datas.. seeing my light:)… these seems to be weird to others but are the ones make me happy.. Unfortunatelly most of times you have to cut some or your dreams and reduce it…But this was not I really want.Especially if you are in science you need to be patient ..but you should not to have to face up to your bosss big stiffness..
I am still a dreammy girl-research girl:)..to try to find my way…Well .. the only thing I guess we need to do is focusing our goal..then trying trying and never caring what others say…I learned not to listen…:)..
Good for you. I never listen either, except when it seems to serve my interests and motivates me along the path to my dreams. I guess patience is required everywhere and even though I seem impatient in most areas, I realized I can be extremely patient when it is about my goals and dreams. If you like it, you need to keep trying until you try. I hope you have a chance to realize your wishes in England, as well;)