A post-graduate dilemma.

Right now, at this moment, I am haunted by the visions of a pending dilemma---my future. In all reality even though it is a huge concept, THE FUTURE, I am not overly concerned. Things have a way of working themselves out. Still, I know at some point a crucial decision will have to be made.

This isn't just my problem...not by a long shot. It is apparent to me that the 21st century has ushered in a new phenomenon among college graduates- the post graduation hiatus. Many college grads have no idea of what they want to do once they get out. Countless children have gone to school, not because they chose education for their own personal benefit, but because it was the path that was set out before them...and they followed blindly, naively, and some even whole-heartedly just because they felt that "it was what they were supposed to do". I didn't realize that I was walking "the blind path" until about the end of my sophomore year at UCSB. It was at that point that I decided I would take classes, not because it was expected...but for my own personal enlightenment. Ultimately I realized that this thing called "college" was a tool to broaden my own perspective.

Still, when I finished college, I drew a blank. I saw my more "directed" friends pursuing doctorates and master's degrees and I felt (and still feel) lost. Over and over in my head I would ask myself, “What the f*ck am I going to do?”

I do have a "pseudo plan" in the works. I have tried to narrow down the things that I am interested in to "direct" myself, which also comes in handy when I am asked by everybody and their brother "what are you going to do? The list is still quite long: Environmental Law, Community and Regional Planning, Environmental Management….and, to make things that much more interesting, acupuncture…..because why the fuck not?
During the nights when I am tossing and turning in bed thinking about my future, I try to calm myself by noticing that the decision does not have to be made "right now"....because right now I am living in Tahoe, working as a ski coach and loving it. For all intensive purposes "that's all there really is". I will deal with the future when it comes.
So, my advice to the Sociology, Psychology, Communications, History, English and any other bull shit major is this..... Do what Cash did --open up a Thai restaurant in Mexico.
It is not worth doing something your whole life that you feel like you are "supposed" to do. Do something you want to do, and accept nothing less of yourself

I hope this BS advice works......for my own sake.
- Tyler