Comments on: Wasted?

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:42:28 +0000

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is such a thing as wasting an education. We are given this rare opportunity for self-improvement, and enlightening of the mind to do one thing and one thing only, GIVE BACK. Whether you choose to excercise that option, is up to you. I see so many of my suburbanite friends, male and female, who are contributing nothing to “the problem”. I think everyone would agree that there ARE ample ’causes’ which beg for our attention. Being American, we have an upper hand in regards to disposable income. To me, its a daily choice. If you never try to help someone who is less fortunate than yourself, you have failed. Kudos to mothers for molding productive citizens of the world, but if you haven’t imparted this concept to them, that too is a failure. To focus on yourself and not others is a FAIL; and quite frankly, most courses of study prepare one to execute their “trade”, and to help someone else learn it. There are millions of “charity cases” right here in our own backyard that don’t include animals, 3rd world countries, or endangered species. What about the Humans who don’t have enough to eat, who don’t have access to an education to become what they want to, who are abused daily and feel they have no one to speak out for them, or who will stand up for them. The cycle repeats when “parents” assume that this role is their end all be all. I too have felt the same way, and I came to a catharsis one day, that life wasn’t for the faint of heart, or one obsessed with things. It is a daily choice which most often consists of us choosing ourselves, rather than others. We must get out of our comfort zone; everyone doesn’t look like us, think like us, but everyone has the capacity to love. How will you help the world today?

I really enjoy reading your blog, and the transparency with which you present yourself. I have never been compelled to comment before, as I have never felt that my opinion echoed anything different than most readers. Today, I was incensed at the lax worldview that most possess. Working with inner city youth will cause a priority shift, and I understand that most don’t have a chance to wrap their minds around what they CAN do. I think fear keeps us from connecting and I am tired of it. Thank you for listening with an open mind and please know that I am not judging anyone, but holding my brothers and sisters accountable out of love.

ADR, you’re a blessing to me- keep up the great work, and keep on using your educational experiences to pull from within.

~Sara H

By: Bumby

Bumby — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:08:01 +0000

Joanna, you sound a bit bitter. Those of us that are of privilege and are of an age, know all too well how blessed we are. That does not preclude us from having thoughts ( mostly unexpressed ) about our paths in life. In other words give us some slack. Disaster is all relative, what is to you…say 50,000 dollars is to us 5,000,000 dollars. There are just more zeros, the disaster is still the same. Just saying. I know that I am targeting one part of your comment, that is the part that struck me as unfair.
Always, Bumby

By: Joanna

Joanna — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 18:46:10 +0000

No. Education is never wasted. First, education teaches one information, teaches how to obtain information and most importantly how to evaluate information. These are skills that permeate one’s life experience, whether you consciously are aware of it or not. The cognitive style created by education is invaluable. Secondly, economic diaster could beset any one of you privileged creatures. Husbands die, money is lost, economic disaster happens. Autonomy is valuable and the skill set learned will provide hopefully if nothing else an economic cushion Finally, the pleasures of learning and mastery of skills, you may find, as I have, are a dear and delightful companion in your life journey……

By: Ronnica

Ronnica — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:07:35 +0000

While I only went to “good” schools, I get what you mean. I don’t need my BA and M Div for the job I’m at now. I realized that my “dream” job as a child was to be a secretary. I’m doing more than that now, but still have plenty administrative tasks. And even more, I hope to be a SAHM mother someday…certainly not something that requires a Master’s degree.

My brother has the attitude that you don’t get more education unless is advances your career. I think that attitude can’t be more wrong (though it’s a common-enough one). We seek education to learn and grow…that’s the goal. You wouldn’t be who you were except for those experiences, and I wouldn’t be who I am except for my experiences.

Don’t regret that experience (because that’s what it is) because that’s what helped make you “you.”

By: kim arnold

kim arnold — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:13:29 +0000

[...] bologna. In so doing, I assured you (and myself) that the lone package of lunch meat in our big andWasted? | ivy league insecuritiesI am the product of an elite education. Dalton. Yale. Columbia Law. The point of this post is not to [...]

By: The gold digger

The gold digger — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:43:51 +0000

I went to Rice and got my MBA at UT-Austin. I was a Peace Corps volunteer after I got my MBA. I have worked for three Fortune 100 companies, spending a total of 14 years in corporate America. I do not work now, as I am living the life of Riley (whoever he is) while my husband sweats day and night in the coal mine of microchip design software.

I don’t think about whether I am wasting my education, although I am a wee bit bored and need to do something about that – maybe pick up some more volunteer stints.

I wonder if part of it is that I paid for college and grad school myself (via loans, scholarships, and summer jobs) and that I have surpassed my parents and grandparents in education. My dad was the first (and only) one in his family to go to college and he went on the GI Bill. My grandparents didn’t go past 8th grade. Maybe I compare myself to them and think that I can rest smugly on my laurels.

It would probably be my daughter (if I had one) who would worry about wasting her education.

By: Bumby Scott

Bumby Scott — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:28:41 +0000

Aidan,
Thank you for your post. The comments are also overwhelmingly on target. I am a Princetonian, ’85, GS ’87
I look at my classmates and I also wonder… Have I wasted my schooling? You and so many others are raising a family,( thank you) I am taking care of my slowly ageing parent, The time that I have to spend with her is priceless. These are times that we can shine and learn and most importantly grow for the future we are the sum of all the parts.
Again, Thank you.

Always Bumby

By: Lindsay Rudolph

Lindsay Rudolph — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:12:07 +0000

You are not the only educated woman to feel this way. It is normal to question yourself. Right now I am teaching, earning my doctorate in organizational leadership. If I leave teaching and pursue something else, is that wasting all my education? I don’t think so. Regardless of the degree we earn, there are very valuable things taken from that experience, aside from content knowledge. If you are doing what you love and doing it well, you have not wasted a thing!
This is my first stop here and I really enjoy your writing. See you on SITS!

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:17:50 +0000

To the extent that it came across that I encourage anyone NOT to do something, whether law school or otherwise, I want to clarify. I have no business telling anyone, much less strangers what to do and not to do and I am fully aware of that. (See Aidan’s earlier post re: Advice.) All I meant by my previous comment regarding my personal decision to go to a fancy law school was that it wasn’t right for me. It wasn’t even a “decision,” as I gave it no thought. I just did it because I “should” and it seemed safe. And if I had had the foresight–or maybe courage?–to reflect on what my real interests, passions and life goals were (the kinds of reflections encouraged here on your blog), I would have gone a different direction. That direction likely would have been a different graduate degree even, so I’m definitely not against pursuing higher education. Maybe the decision would have been a different law school, but one with a more reasonable price tag so I would not be stuck with student loans that force me to practice “high-octane” law and would allow me to do something that feels meaningful. Who knows. I try not to dwell on what I can’t change. The point is, I needed to take the reins of my life sooner and I am glad for Shelby that she is doing that and thinking these thoughts at a young age.

By: elizabeth

elizabeth — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:03:51 +0000

without a doubt! I love your writing, and am so impressed by the time and care you take to respond to each of your readers.