Job Discussion Forums

Celeste · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject:

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. Cool

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

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.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Scott in HK · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 148

Louis wrote

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

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.

ChrisFilter · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 3 Location: London

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! Wink

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 Cool

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

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.

Scott in HK · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 148

shmooj continues...

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Perhaps shmooj is only saying that people who fill their world only with things they like, are doing so without challenging themselves much. Taking the easy road, so to speak. If that's his real meaning, I support it.

Everyone tries to fill their world with things they like. It's how you go about doing it that matters sometimes.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I also agree with Shmooj. The best things in life are worth working towards. Same goes with travel. The best places involve a lot of effort to get to and they're worth it when you arrive there.

Scott in HK · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 148

Is it written somewhere that the things we like can't be challenging...or that we can't like challenges...

Is it written that the ONLY good things worth having HAVE to cause us misery while we do them...

where shmooj and I parted was on one point...should people not complete some 'task' if they truly don't like and don't think it will help them in the future...shmooj believes that the person shouldn't finish the 'task' as giving up is wrong...all the time...and shows some lack of character...

and I believe that people often can come to a rational decision that they are on the wrong path and the completion of the 'task' is not going to benefit them in any way...but often they feel 'compelled' to finish but outside pressure...at this time...I think it would be okay to step off the path and try a different one...

nomadic · Joined: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 118

I'm not certain the spirit in which 'the things we like can't be challenging' was meant, since it can be read in more than one way, but to illustrate one of them: I like a challenge. That is part of the reason why I chose to leave school before graduating... the routine and environment wasn't a challenge.

Having gone several years now in the 'real world', I can safely say there have been numerous times in which having a degree would have been somewhat beneficial - but at what cost? I'm an idealist .. the idea of trading my time and happiness just for a piece of paper which would have certified I'd been through a formal education did not seem like such a grand idea to me. Especially since, at least in my case, I didn't know what I wanted to study at that point in my life.

Are as many doors open for you without a degree? No, of course not, which is a big reason why some may choose to stay in school, but for that reason alone, it's really quite a stretch to think anyone with the presence of mind to really evaluate the pros and cons is taking the easy way out if they leave school.

Just another perspective from one who sees both sides of the coin every single day. Smile

(PS. Now, 7 years after leaving school, I may very well return in a year or two... but for an MS or PhD, not a BS. Perseverance can take one just as far as formal education, and the 'hard work' along the way can be, as others have mentioned, incredibly rewarding.)

ChrisFilter · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 3 Location: London

nice to hear a similar viewpoint nomadic, leaving after two years, even if only as a leave of abscence is by no means the easy option.

would it be remotely benficial if I got an official letter from my university University College London saying that I had successfully completed 2 years of a BA and that I was taking a leave of abscence for a couple of years? It might not help me getting a work permit, but in terms of getting a job would it help?