- Different professions make different money, and sometimes the difference can be ridiculous.
- Find something you love to do. This, of course as we know, is very hard. Otherwise, remember that your work is just a job. It does not define you; it is not your life. It is a means to an end, i.e., paying your bills and buying the things you need.
- Banks aren't really your friends and don't give two craps about you. Spend less than you make. Debts suck the life out of you.
- Learn who your friends are, and learn not to be jealous of their success.
- Be completely honest with yourself and others, even if it means taking a risk. Truth hurts.
- Learn how to write clearly, speak intelligently, think critically, and get along with people who are not like you. You will not meet any competent people at high levels of any enterprise who do not possess these.
- Don't be afraid to look stupid. I've met plenty of people I didn't like, but I have yet to meet anyone who didn't have something they could teach me. Even regarding sex.
- Don't go to graduate school if the only reason you'd go is that you don't know what else to do. Graduate education has many inherent risks and drawbacks, and it should only be taken on if you have a good idea of what those risks mean for you.
- No one really gives a flying fuck about what grades you got or what awards you've won.
- And nobody owes you anything.
- Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you know everything.
- Be in equivalent relationships. Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.
- Things will go wrong at work and at home. Very few things will turn out exactly as you'd planned.
- Lastly, but not least, watch your back and keep your nose clean.
anybody has got anything else to add?
4 comments:
keith. i'm still 19 and i'm graduating this year. everyone thinks i'm too young and that i shld do postgrad but i really don't want to. well, not yet, anyway. now, after reading this, i feel more convinced that i shld not do grad sch just cos i have nothing else left to do. thanks for that! :D
you're welcome. by all means, do a Masters first if you want to.
i just don't think PhDs are for everybody, and everyone who chooses to do that should be briefed on what to expect.
anyway.
beside at 19, there's ample time left to return to grad school if you feel like doing so. so no worries!
to continue the conversation on grad school... perhaps:
Grad school is NOT a good option simply because you display extraordinary talent/interest in subject field of choice. Go to grad school (and hopefully earn your keep after) only if you're the single-minded obsessive type, and don't mind work bleeding into life.
rehi, btw.
In my 6th and final year of grad school, I have been giving similar advice for about 4.5 years. DON'T go to grad school unless there is a specific problem in the world that you would like to address, and have SOME concept of how to do it. I think the more specific a goal one goes into grad school with (school of any kind, really), the higher the chances for success.
Also, more life experience will mean more realistic, useful goals, and more skills to achieve them.
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