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Celeste
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 814
Location: Fukuoka City, Japan
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 Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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I wanted to quit every year during my degree. Low paying, soul-sucking summer jobs got me back in the classroom every fall. Hang in there.  |
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Louis
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Posts: 275
Location: Beautiful Taiyuan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| I detested university, and dropped out after 2 years. It was the best decision of my life. Don't feel compelled to do something you don't like, it's really not worth it. |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| Louis wrote: |
| Don't feel compelled to do something you don't like, it's really not worth it. |
What a load of postmodern give-it-to-me-now-mommy cr#p
Most things worth doing involve difficulty... and that is partly why they are worth doing.
If I had followed your ridiculous advice at an early age I would never have learned the guitar, Hindi, Japanese, remained married, got an MA or my TESOL cert or even stayed friends with anyone longer than one argument and I wouldn't have a website at all let alone one that people love to visit. I can think of more but if I leave it just there and imagine my life without all that my life disappears in a puff of smoke...
I dread to imagine what the world would be like if we all took that lead
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| the best decision of my life. |
Right mate. YOUR life, not everyone's...
don't feel you have to respond to this unless you'd really like to  |
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Scott in HK
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 5:26 am Post subject: |
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Louis wrote
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| Don't feel compelled to do something you don't like, it's really not worth it. |
which to most readers would mean don't let someone or something force to continue on a path that you don't really want to be on....that someone being family or friends or society...there is not much point in doing things for others at the expense of your happiness..if you know the path you are on is not going to make your life better why trudge on to make others happy....
and shmooj responded
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| Most things worth doing involve difficulty... and that is partly why they are worth doing. |
and admirable thought but it has nothing to do with what louis said. He never mention giving up if it was too hard...he never talked about wanting things now without working...and i don't think following the advice of shakespear...to thine ownself be true...could be consider postmodernist crap...
on a side note...postmodern...did you just learn this word...as it seems to be popping up in your posts a lot these days... |
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Louis
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Posts: 275
Location: Beautiful Taiyuan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 8:38 am Post subject: |
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| Thank you Scott. Obviously, life involves work. What I was trying to say is: Choose your own goals. Shmooj, I'm sure you worked hard to learn the guitar, foreign languages, etc... but persevered because *these things interest you* and the payoff is worth the effort. This, according to an individual's perceptions, might not be the case for postsecondary education. |
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ChrisFilter
Joined: 15 Apr 2004
Posts: 3
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 10:02 am Post subject: |
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I have no problem with hard work, but as previously mentioned, hard work when you're not doing it for you, or the right reasons is utterly soul destroying.
I've worked plenty of low paid summer jobs, in fact, have barely been unemployed since I started working at 14, 8 years.. and none of those jobs have been cushy.. but I've been happier in myself doing a crap job that uni. I want live a bit, instead of the pseudo-existance I feel like I'm traped in now.. however I see the value of a degree, hence the leave of asbscence rather than quitting for good. As for finding it harder coming back, if it's any harder than doing it now, then it's not going to happen, I value my mental health too much!
So, back on topic, it seems that China is my only real option without a BA? Certainly no bad thing, I want to do it for the teaching, and the experience rather than the money! Anywhere else I could work? Any hints and top tips?
Thanks again |
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shmooj
Joined: 11 Sep 2003
Posts: 1758
Location: Seoul, ROK
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott in HK wrote: |
shmooj responded
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| Most things worth doing involve difficulty... and that is partly why they are worth doing. |
and admirable thought but it has nothing to do with what louis said.
on a side note...postmodern...did you just learn this word |
Louis posted on a Newbie forum where people are looking for advice at crucial stages in their lives - making make or break decisions about EFL for them.
Louis needs to back up what he says. If he says "like" he implies that if things get disagreeable, unenjoyable, difficult i.e. if you start to dislike them, then you should stop doing them.
Life in the EFL/ESL world is full of stuff we "don't like" doing. LIving in a foreign culture successfully actually involves doing a load of stuff you "don't like" until finally you realise, "No, actually this isn't bad." In the end you actually like it quite a lot.
If you therefore post on a Newbie forum the kind of advice Louis posted you propagate a myth that I notice a lot of in the attitudes of people of my generation - an attitude that falls, as far as my reading informs me, under the classification of postmodern.
The myth is that if you fill you life with things you "like" doing, you will be happy and successful. From my experience, which I shared, persevering when you do not actually like what you are doing reaps very rich rewards in the vast majority of cases.
Fundamental to this forum though is that I believe in order to successfully settle overseas you need to actually do things you "don't like" |
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Louis
Joined: 02 Jan 2004
Posts: 275
Location: Beautiful Taiyuan
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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Shmooj, I take offence to your statement that I shouldn't "propagate myths"... and influence people at this crucial stage. The advice I gave here is exactly that - advice, based on my personal experience. Chris doesn't have to follow it, as he can do what he wants, obviously. I am certainly not making his decisions for him.
To clarify, once again. Life will always have elements which are difficult, or unenjoyable. I am not ignoring this reality. My point was that if you find yourself in a situation that is, as Chris put it, soul burning, be it university, EFL, or whatnot, you have to know when to get out. I am not looking to discredit the value of perseverance, or of an education.
Back on topic: Chris, as said before, there are worthwhile jobs for no-degree types in China. Do your homework, though: many offers that you will get are quite undesirable. However, degree or not, deals often fall through, so bring extra cash and 20 photocopies of your resume, just in case. Best of luck. |
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Scott in HK
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 2:51 pm Post subject: < | | |
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