Alright this is super long, I'm sorry :I
Could it be that there is so much exposure to successful
figure’s success stories everywhere, and except for rarities it is usually represented
as “falling into place” and that that seems to indicate what an individual is
“meant” to do? That if something is really hard it must just not be for them.
Could you ask yourself if you believe that?
But that is not what life is, is it? I believe (and I’m not
presuming you give a shtt what I believe haha) if you want to be successful and
get things done, you need to be realistic and understand the word sacrifice. 20 something’s don’t hear
enough about sacrifices, its as if everyone is taught they should find the job
that is their hobby for all the sayings that encourage it, that doing a job you
love means “I’ve never worked a day in my life” right? But no, thats stupid. You can learn to love many jobs, there isn't a one and only JOB. Because there is good and bad with all things, and you've been lied to if you think you'll find it. I think its a matter of accepting the good with the bad. And I wonder if on the same note, that could be why relationships aren't lasting as well? Humans are al imperfect just like jobs, and wandering around waiting for one thats absolutely perfect is ridiculous. Cause we are no way the perfect employee, or perfect lover! At least I'm not, I don't know you all. haha. Its just appreciating those qualities that attract you to the job. Maybe you agree?
To encourage you to allow yourself to think about this, and
maybe even possibly believe I’m not preaching out my ass from nowhere, Ill tell
you a vague summary of my own milestones.
I had my formative years in Midwest Arizona. When I was in
high school I was adamant about going to school for art history. With RISD being
my number one but absolutely far fetched, I went to the academy of art (SF’s)
on a tour when I was 15, and fell in love with it. I thought I knew that’s
exactly where I should be. That it was my “perfect fit”. But I could not afford
it, and I felt a mixture of being too timid to apply for scholarships thinking
I would work so hard and achive so little compared to admission prices, and
never wanting to be in debt with student loans… so when I got back home I
walked into a military recruiters office and set up an appointment for the
equivalent military “SAT” called ASVAB the day I turned 16. I graduated from HS
6 mo early and joined the Coast Guard at 17. I served in Ventura, Long Beach,
and San Fran CA, in order. I met and married my wife during my service, we have
a dog, which may not count as a child for the purposes of the milestones, but
she counts to us. I got out from the CG at 21 years old, with full benefits,
and when I went back to the academy of art I had a new appreciation of
sacrifice, after being a self-dubbed artsy person with a creative soul and
never exactly expected to enjoy the military, but ended up having a great time.
This essentially debunked the word sacrifice to me, I had thought I would be
giving up a piece of me (some of you may think of joining the military as
selling your soul or unthinkable, and I’m not trying to recruit you. These are
my personal experiences and are of course, biased). nd the word does not scare
me, so I choose not to enroll, and I came to ccsf to pursue a rather different
career. I am still 21 years old, and in a year and a half I will have an
associates degree in mechanical engineering technology, and still love art
history. I will always have an artsy soul. I believe I have no more drive,
purpose, or advantages than any other healthy person has, I just am no longer
afraid of the word sacrifice. I realize I can make my own definitions for words
that apply to my life. And I encourage everyone to.
And I believe I know what the word sacrifice means, and
despite the overwhelming negative stigma, it is not exactly bad. It develops appreciation. Think about that for a
second, please. Are you afraid that sacrificing something will make you bitter?
Or make you regret it forever? Just because that is what everyone tells you
doesn’t mean its true! But don’t listen to me and don’t listen to anyone, you
have to discover it for yourself.
I mean, shoot, just writing this make me appreciate things more. Anyways... I believe I am grown-up, at age 21.
If you read all of this, thanks. haha! I’m honestly kind of shy about putting this up here, but I already wrote it so… ok!
Em
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