Jan

9

If you made the rules, you can shake them…

Filed Under Writings/Rants 

Last night, I had my first class of the semester, and I’ll talk more about my classes a little later after I’ve had at least one session in each, but there was something that struck me interesting.

This was one of those classes where the teacher hands out the sheet you fill out about yourself. And when I got to the second question, I stared at my paper.

What are your career goals and aspirations?

Oh sure, I’m only 24–I turn 25 on the 31st of this month, so gifts and money and electric guitars are all appreciated, just kidding–and I’m married and I seem to have some path and direction that I’m going. I feel like I’m heading towards something, but I don’t know what that goal is yet.

I hear about my friends who are graduating and getting their jobs, or the kids who say “Well, I always dreamed I’d go into ________.” That’s all fine and dandy. Growing up, I said the same thing about working for the postal service, being an english teacher, and wanting to be a rock star. While the only option of those that I think would be accurate would be the english teacher, I don’t even really want to be or do that right now. I just don’t feel it. I don’t feel like it’s really what’s in my future and what’s lined up for me.

I don’t know. I just don’t know what I “want to be when I grow up.” If I want to own a restaurant, write a novel, have fifteen grandchildren, or even what I want my job to be. And to be here, where I am, it makes me very much a blank slate.

I picked up my pen, and I slowly filled in the blank:

“I honestly don’t have any. I know that when I graduate, I’ll be lucky to get a job in the sales force or a pre-management training style program making 28-32k a year and working over the next few years to get to a basic managerial position in a very basic cubicle, in a 9-5 position with overtime when necessary. I figure I’ll be writing in my off time from that job.”

I’m 24, and to have that as all I could say? I just feel like I’m missing something. I can’t put my finger on it. I honestly can’t.

But there’s got to be something more to life than this… After 7 straight years of classes and schools, I know that much. I’m just waiting for that “magical click” that’ll reveal to me something that seems to fit right. But for now, I guess I’m content. I’m standing, breathing, and just figuring out things as I go along.

That’s all you can do sometimes. You just keep treading forward, knowing that there’s a finish line somewhere, but knowing that the real content is the journey you’re taking to get to that ultimate end-game…

Comments

One Response to “If you made the rules, you can shake them…”

  1. abbybeth on January 9th, 2008 7:52 pm

    mr adam,

    I think you should write a book about what is wrong with the people and things in the world.

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    About The Site


    Thanks for stopping by, folks! My name is Adam J. Cohen, and I'm a guitarist/songwriter in Champaign, IL, recently relocated from Orlando, FL where I'm a UCF grad. Here, you'll find vignettes on my life, setlists and show reviews, and whatever else crosses my mind. Enjoy!