CompuServe Messages

Elizabeth, I would not think about not reading all of your post. Very informative! <<I am a strong believer in "Do What You Love" (or "Do What You Are").<< This is also my core belief, but it's beginning to feel like I'm a dreamer. I'm not looking to make a million bucks, I'd just like to get into a career position that relates to the sciences, is challenging, and emotionally rewarding. >>You have to have a life. And you have to support your family in all ways, not only financially but with your presence. << I also agree with this, but do you also compromise your life in the interim? There is a majority of this population "just" going to work on a daily basis, not liking what they are doing, supporting their families in the meantime, but not happy! In the long run, I believe, if you are not happy with what you are doing, your family suffers anyway. This goes back to the age old question, "What is the meaning or purpose of life??" I believe there is a meaning for each and everyone of us out there, we just have to search for it. But the conflict is; what do we sacrifice in the searching? And there is the RISK that we may never find what it is we are searching for, because we don't have the tenacity, or something else happens. Strange is this think called life. I read a good analogy from Earl Nightingale awhile back in regards to that searching. He stated that some people are "river people". They run deep in regards to their purpose in life. They know what they want to do at an early age and persue it fully. The are the Mozarts, Einsteins, the artists, etc. Then there are the "goal people". They have to be continually setting goals to reach their objectives. And although this group can be just as successful, they are for the most part externally motivated. But we can all find our purpose by searching. By no means am I a sexist, but at this point my wife expects me to get a job, pretty much any job. She has a pretty decent job (which she herself does not enjoy going to), but she expects me to become the major breadwinner. And I do not have a problem with this, but I'm pulled between just accepting anything, and searching for what it is I can connect with. I started college after we were dating, and we eventually got married and had a child. And I've worked pretty much full-time while going to school full-time, but they were not the types of jobs with high pay, or even much security. But we managed, and there was a lot of stress in between. So now that I have graduated (yesterday), she has high expectations on my part. But I do not blame her one bit. If I could just be one of those who are satisified with anything, and making a decent living, there would not be the internal conflict. >>My advice is to find as interesting a job as available with your current degree (look outside the "economist" column in the classified, too: they say that many jobs are never advertised because they *didn't exist before they were filled*!). Look for companies that are involved with science (not just geology) so that you can rub shoulders with scientists and find out about their work. And for that matter, you may find work that does not even use your degree, or only slightly related…<< Excellent advice. This is my primary objective right now. I want to continue my education, but I will do it at a slower pace. And if I can find a company that will support my education, that would be great. I see from other responses that the computer industry is the way to go. Seems like the only stable field right now. It just frustrates me when I was always under the impression from the education system and media that there were shortages in the sciences, but that's not what I've been hearing here and the other forums. I can't understand why the grades schools are stressing the need for more math and science teaching? What are we preparing these kids for, empty job markets?? >>Finally, I absolutely suggest you get "What Color Is Your Parachute?" by Richard Bolles. You need to read it cover-to-cover, including the appendices. << I do have the 1993 ver. of this book. Thanks for bringing it up. I'll start my research there. >>By way of a "related career", I will probably go into scientific writing after I am terminated. << Elizabeth, I really hope this all turns out for you. It's motivation for those of us who are still searching! And thanks for listening… gary