Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AgentM]

Hey all,

So after some recent introspection, I've come to the conclusion that I personally rely on school to give my life some direction. It seems like getting through university has been the goal that I've been striving towards for a long time! I hope to be able to go to grad school after a few years in Korea, but I was thinking, what if I don't get accepted to grad school anywhere? What happens if/when I finish grad school? It feels weird to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as I'm about to start my last 8 months of undergrad.

I was wondering, for those of you who are finished all the schooling that you intend to go for, do you miss the sense of direction in your life that school gave you? Do you find other goals to replace academic achievement? Or are you just happy and content with your life as it is?

Thoughts and/or advice would be appreciated!

[Underwaterbob]

If anything I found school restrictive on what I really wanted to be doing. I can find my own directions just fine thank you. Not that I regret the experience in any way.

[oldtactics]

I miss university more than I have ever missed anything else in my life. The feeling of accomplishment that I got every time I finished a paper or handed in an exam is something that I haven't found since I finished school.

Counting down the days until I go back. Completely understand what you mean.

[Dee Lister]

yes, you'll get in. don't let your 'what if.. ' worries get to you. this is the thing that separates grad school people from non-such

Truly,

experience

[jwhofer]

I graduated college in 2003, then taught a year in Japan.

After I returned to the US, I made the best decision of my life. I sold all my belongings, loaded a backpack with some supplies and backpacked through Mexico and Central America for almost a year. Through my journey I found happiness, sorrow, love, loneliness, heartbreak, madness, self-reliance, fear and loathing. At times I felt like Don Quixote.

But I did learn the most important thing of my life. Freedom is real. School can be great, but you can't learn how to be free. Be Don Quixote...be Jack Kerouac...be Hunter S. Be yourself and wander. No itinerary, no backup plan, no attachment, no desire for a particular end. I think you'll find "higher education" can often be a cage for your mind, an umbrella sheltering you from experience, and a crutch you will find you don't need.

[Fishead soup]

Painting toy soldiers and making a scene from The Battle of Waterloo.

[jahson4]

I still plan to further my education, thus Korea is more of a stepping stone for me. But, relying on school as your only source of direction seems unhealthy. Develop your independence. Don't think that your future lies solely in your education, there's a lot you can accomplish in life with mere desire.

[Sergio Stefanuto]

I've completely lost interest in my qualifications.

[OnTheOtherSide]

Professional development and further schooling has completely lost my interest too. Taking classes at the University is a lot of fun, but i'm sick of going into major debt over it only to face a crappy job market and be an employee anyway. And the countless hours of studying, going to classes in the morning, nights with little sleep, not having enough free time to work a real job, i'm over it.

I'm all about finding ways to hustle up money these days. I can't beleve I even went through with my B.A. honestly, it's questionable whether it was even worth it. I certainly learn a lot more when i'm not a student.

[princess]

[djsmnc]

No mater how far I go, I want to play in the sandbox after eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

[the ireland]

I will be finishing my 19 year stint in education in exactly 2 weeks (if I finish my dissertation) I'm happy I have gone to university gotten a bachelors degree in Business Studies and management and an Hons Degree in Business Studies and Marketing, a post grad diploma in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and finally with the submission of my dissertation I will also have my masters in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Am I happy I did it?? Yes, I'm the only person in my immediate family to go to college and I met my girlfriend there too.

Am I glad it's ending? Yes, I eed to get out and start makig some money and feel like i'm doing something with my life

Will I miss it?? not post grad education, or being in education at the age of 25...but I do miss being in 2nd 3rd and 4th year in college livin with my mates, going out before, after and if possible during our rugby matches.


It's time to grow up though, don't dwell on education, none of it means anything anyway

[AgentM]

I have to point out that there are certainly downsides to being in school. I dislike the homework (although essays can sometimes be interesting to write), studying, the constantly being poor and not being able to have much of a life. A friend of mine says I have "lastyearitis" as she calls it, so I'm definitely looking forward to not being a student for a while. I was just thinking in more general terms.

[He with Horns on Head]

[AgentM]