So I received an e-mail from someone who's opinion I value. In case you really wanted to know my thoughts here they are. My response is below the e-mail. Would love to know your thoughts (read comments are welcome).
E-mail from friend:
Basically, I'm concerned about your decision to go to grad school in
IT management. Don't get me wrong, I think you would be great at it.
You are a natural leader and have the intellect to be very successful
in IT. I'm just concerned that it would be a waste of so many of your
talents. You are so energetic and charismatic, you are a great
listener and motivator, you have great rapport with people of all ages
and backgrounds, I could go on but I'll stop there. I would hope that
you could find a path that might put all of these gifts to better use
than I think the IT world might. I would really hate to see you
pursue anything that you are not passionate about, because your
passion for life is very contagious and those of us around you are
better because of it. Of course, if you are passionate about IT
management, then I support you 110% (as I would whatever road you
take).
Anyhow, you continue to inspire and challenge me to be a better person
and for that I am grateful.
My Response:
First off, thank you for the kind words :)
Honestly I have been, and I don't know how to put this, a little afraid to reply to this e-mail. Because I fear your wrath? Nope, though I should :) !! But because I KNOW you are RIGHT... This is something I have been fighting with for a while and something I NEEDED to hear. Hearing it from you only goes to confirm my thoughts and feelings. I value your opinion. And please don't ever feel like your advice is unsolicited, we are friends and as friends you have the right to speak into my life :) It's when you wrote this that it hit me:
"I would really hate to see you pursue anything that you are not passionate about, because your passion for life is very contagious and those of us around you are better because of it."
The truth is I like a lot of things and am good enough at some of them to make a decent living, but I am not passionate about them. I am really trying to hold out, because I believe that when I do find whatever it is I am passionate about I will chase after it whole heartedly. Quite honestly I am really excited about this prospect, but I have yet to find it in work. The Grad School in IT management seems like more of a stepping stone, but at the same time I know it is not where I see myself for the rest of my life. So I'm not really 'gun ho' on the idea. I can do it, but would I be doing it for the right reason? Likely not at this point. So here I stand wondering where to go next, surrounded by great friends, loving life and loving who I work with, but not passionate about the work itself.
Strangely enough I came across this the other day:
"One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result, and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community."
I don't think I'll find that pleasure until I find something that I am passionate about doing. So in short thanks for the e-mail and any other advice you could send my way would definitely be solicited, I wish I had the life experience you have. And for the record I am glad for friends like you so early in life, how did I get so lucky?
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2 comments:
Hmm, it is difficult to determine where our passions lie or how our passions can match up with a job. I think that if you keep searching and trying you will figure it out and some of it may just be timing. Perhaps right now you don't know exactely because you need to develop certain other skills that you are getting in your current situation. Being honest however with yourself and taking the notes of others is very wise. However, I've always thought you were pretty wise Rex! Keep us updated on this journey, I could use a model to follow to figure out this myself
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Harold Whitman
You know how I like quotes and I thought of you when i read this one. Thanks for you input. Life is too short to not enjoy what you do, but also not to do what makes a difference!
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