ShawnInPA
12-14-2004, 11:32 PM
Hi, I just wanted to introduce myself to you and tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Shawn, and I'm 26 years old and living in Bethlehem, PA. I just signed up for this board earlier today... hell, I just finished reading the book earlier today. I've been out of college now for 3 years (graduated with a degree in Sociology), and I've had the same job since February, 2002.
I bought the book about 2 years ago, and when I picked it up at that point to read it, I realized that the situations weren't necessarily me... at that point. I read 24 pages into the book, and put it in my bookcase, not to be touched again until about 2 weeks ago. I realized that this book did relate to me now, whether or not I wanted to admit it.
There are many things in the book that describe me perfectly. I'm program manager for an after-school organization that works with inner-city youth. It's a really, really rewarding job, but there's not really any room for growth, and honestly I'm just tired of it. It's great, but I'm not sure if I want to work with kids for the rest of my life. A part of me wants to go back to get a Master's to be a guidance counselor, but another part of me feels like there's more out there. I don't want to commit my time or money into something I'm not really sure about. I just really have no idea what I want right now, as far as a career goes.
Another big factor leading to my QLC, is the fact that I'm single right now, no girlfriend... and all of my friends have gotten married, or seem like they're pretty much on the fast track to it. My friends from college live in other cities, and not all of them are at this point as far as their relationships go, but I don't get to communicate with them very often. My parents have been bugging me about my career and the fact that I'm not headed toward marriage. I know deep down it's not a big deal, but there's just so much pressure on me.
I feel like maybe I should get out of the area and look for something somewhere else, but I don't have the cash to do that right now... besides, I feel like I should have an idea of what I want to do before I uproot and move somewhere else.
I haven't admitted this much to anyone around me, as they're all tied up in their own world of relationships, careers, and other things.
I'm looking forward to talking to all of you, and hopefully I can make some friends along the way... in the Bethlehem, PA, area, and other places as well.
Thanks, and I hope all of you are having a great holiday season.
Shawn
I bought the book about 2 years ago, and when I picked it up at that point to read it, I realized that the situations weren't necessarily me... at that point. I read 24 pages into the book, and put it in my bookcase, not to be touched again until about 2 weeks ago. I realized that this book did relate to me now, whether or not I wanted to admit it.
There are many things in the book that describe me perfectly. I'm program manager for an after-school organization that works with inner-city youth. It's a really, really rewarding job, but there's not really any room for growth, and honestly I'm just tired of it. It's great, but I'm not sure if I want to work with kids for the rest of my life. A part of me wants to go back to get a Master's to be a guidance counselor, but another part of me feels like there's more out there. I don't want to commit my time or money into something I'm not really sure about. I just really have no idea what I want right now, as far as a career goes.
Another big factor leading to my QLC, is the fact that I'm single right now, no girlfriend... and all of my friends have gotten married, or seem like they're pretty much on the fast track to it. My friends from college live in other cities, and not all of them are at this point as far as their relationships go, but I don't get to communicate with them very often. My parents have been bugging me about my career and the fact that I'm not headed toward marriage. I know deep down it's not a big deal, but there's just so much pressure on me.
I feel like maybe I should get out of the area and look for something somewhere else, but I don't have the cash to do that right now... besides, I feel like I should have an idea of what I want to do before I uproot and move somewhere else.
I haven't admitted this much to anyone around me, as they're all tied up in their own world of relationships, careers, and other things.
I'm looking forward to talking to all of you, and hopefully I can make some friends along the way... in the Bethlehem, PA, area, and other places as well.
Thanks, and I hope all of you are having a great holiday season.
Shawn