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OK, not really a dilemna, just a decision. Right now I'm majoring in Intelligence Studies and minoring in Middle Eastern Studies. I'm thinking of changing majors to ME studies and minoring in history (this would be general history) or vice versa. At 47, I'm not so sure at changing careers. My current job is going very well, my boss is great (and maybe this is causing some objectivity problems) he's also become a good friend, the pay is fine with me, and my job now, especially because of my boss, requires some thinking and to come up and implement with ideas. At times it's stressful, but I like it like that because it means I have lots of responsibility. I think getting a job in the government, especially Intel or anything with foreign service, is going to be difficult to get into because of my lack of experience with both. So I'm rethinking my education. Instead of a degree "to get a job", it will be a degree simply because I want a degree and an education, especially in something that interests me. Middle East and ancient history is fascinating, and the current socio-poitical events in the ME are also quite interesting. There's more to it than just interest. I'm noticing a change in myself and how I look at things, especially politically and socially now. Don't know it that's from taking history classes or just from an education. Looking at the positives and negatives, the only big negative is the cost. It's not like I can't afford it (currently anyway...whatever the Lord wills), but I'm kind of thinking this money could go towards retirement or my house. I need a roof soon, so my course load will probably be light at that time. But as long as I can afford it, I want to do it. The positives are many. As far as the money goes, I see people spending more on bar tabs or extravagances than I do on school. I don't drink much (although I am acquiring a taste for Guinness Draught ;D). I bought a 6 pack about 3 weeks ago and still have 4 of them left, so that's how much I drink, and I don't need the newest computer or coolest car. Actually I'm kind of cheap and stingy when it comes to spending on myself.Sorry for the length of this "thinking out loud" post. So should I change majors and is my attitude towards education realistic?
I probably can't give a complete answer because of time but I recall hearing as a senior in high school something to the effect of “major in whatever you like, not necessarily what you think you want to go into”. I think that is pretty true. In many cases I think that people can enter lines of work not necessarily related to their areas of study in college. In fact, this could give the person an advantage because it means he/she will bring a different perspective to that field. So, if you want to study history and ME Studies rather than ME Studies and Intelligence Studies, and then later want to enter this field, I don't think it would really hurt you. I could be wrong about this, but I think that all these fields are related enough anyway to government work that it's not really problematic.As far as a career change, that's a big question, one that I suppose only you can ultimately answer based on your circumstances. Perhaps something else will open up...you might continue your job and write on the side for money, or something else like this. Doors can open up. Things might develop not quite as you had previously expected.
Well, if I'm offered a job through school, I'll have a big decision to make. Or, after I get degreed, I can be a part time professor at Brown, and teach them how to not be liberals. ;D (I'd probably last 2 days there before I'm fired)
Ken, major in what interests you and enjoy everything you learn. God controls the jobs you will get. Remember God couldn't use Moses until he was 80 years old — 40 years as an Egyptian ruler and then 40 years as a lowly shepherd in the Wilderness. Guess what those two drastic career moves made him? The only person alive capable of leading a rag tag bunch (estimated at 600,000 +) through the Wilderness as their shepherd/ruler and teacher. And who was his successor? A lowly stonecutter named Joshua….but wasn't that logical? Who else was going to build the new cities of the newly conquered Promised Land? Moral of the story is, no matter what you are doing now, God is using it in his plans for what he has in store for you. Bottom line is…even if you are a ditchdigger, God will find a way to elevate you to somewhere important, if not for man — definitely for the kingdom to come.
I always (well..tried to always) lok at my job situations as a blessing from God. The boss definitely is a blessing. I'll take your advice, Don, and get an education in what interests me. Who knows, maybe I'll be a climatologist someday. 😀
I agree, there are not many that can spell and pronounce, much less use “vise versa” correctly. Follow your educational dreams. It's a shame many are unable to do so in this country; we lag far behind most of the world when it comes to educating our young ones. I would suggest that you apply your talents in that direction, but what ever path you choose to follow, good luck, my best wishes follow you.post scriptum: I have lived in California off and on since the late seventies, and I have read recently that California leads the nation in education failure, health care, and more. I would encourage none to move here; I would move so far away ... if I were able. But if you can afford to be underpaid, overtaxed, et cetera, well, by all means, come to California and help educate the young ones here. They represent a hugh segment of the coming electorate.
The force is strong on this board. I am now officially a History major (with a minor in Mid East Studies)All anti-Irish British historians and extreme Left or Right revisionists beware. >:(Remember, it was Irish monks and Muslim scholars who meticulously preserved the records of the past so we can enjoy and learn it now. (Maybe I'll even learn some of my own country's history too. :-[)So is anyone hiring for any archeological digs? I want to know what those bloody ringforts were used for.
I could hook you up with a former professor of mine who now teaches at UNC Chapel Hill. His name is Wayne Emmitt Lee. He goes to Greece every year on archealogical digs. I could have gone with him, but it wasn't feasible at the time.
Congrats Ski! You caved in to pressure. ;D No, really – glad to hear that the history bug (virus?) has taken you over. Best adventure for you would be to show up in Ireland somehow, travel to some out-of-the-way place where there's a ringfort, and start asking the locals who you can talk to about studying them. Oh, the adventures (and pints) you'd go through.....you'd certainly gain some fond memories!
That would be awesome! Digging in Greece would be too. But I'll wait to get more education so I'll appreciate it more. That would be something to spend a week or two vacation."Greetings from Athens, wish you were here. And, oh yeah, I found Alexander's remains the other day."
I would love to help excavate Troy, but a trip to Turkey just isn't what I'd be willing to do right now.
I would love to help excavate Troy, but a trip to Turkey just isn't what I'd be willing to do right now.
I would! Turkey's got some cool stuff to discover. My first Western Civ professor did soem archeological research there last year.I have another question: Among the others, I have to take 4 of these courses. Should I just go in chronological order, or take the first two and the last two, for example? What would you guys do?
HS402 - Colonial America HS413 - The Early Republic, 1783-1815 HS414 - Jacksonian America, 1815-1846 HS415 - Antebellum America, 1846-1861 HS416 - Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877 HS417 - The Gilded Age, 1877-1900 HS418 - The United States: 1900 to WW II HS419 - The United States: WW II to the Present
In the European history requirements, I'm probably just going to go in order (Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages)
