seasonal hire

for as long as i can remember, i've felt pressure from my family about choosing an appropriate life path for myself. this feeling has infiltrated many areas of my day to day including personal relationships, institutions for education, and finally (most importantly and most difficult), the problem of the career.

it's true that most all people will inevitably face the problem of discerning and working toward a legitimate career. complications begin to rear their head as we discover that one person's legitimate career is another person's minimum wage seasonal position, and that you cannot realistically support a family on $10 an hour. every position is a stepping stone and sometimes you have to pick your battles and weigh the pros and cons of whatever season you happen to be in. that's all well and good, but the truth remains that at some point, we're forced to place ourselves into a genre. some aim higher than others from an early age, some are comfortable sticking to their God-given talents, and others are left in the dark while jugging expectations and reality.

both of my parents came from nothing and decided that they would actively pursue a change in their circumstances. both of them were given scholarships to reputable state universities, excelled within, and went on to obtain their MBA (Masters of Business Administration) from Pepperdine University. my mom graduated with her degree a month before i was born, and immediately they both made it personal goals of theirs to strive for excellence in the corporate field. rising to management and excelling in the aerospace industry for the past 20+ years, they've done extremely well for themselves in becoming some of the most successful and driven people i've ever encountered, and subsequently were able to create a happy and comfortable life for my brother and i.

now that my own season is approaching, i'm becoming concerned about the time i spend advancing in positions that i know will not ultimately contribute to my own goals. the problem seems to be a lack of personal discipline in buckling down and forcing myself to come up with a reasonable answer for a 5 or 10 year plan. it's one thing to have an image of yourself or know what it is that you want to be doing with your life, but having no direction is an even harder battle to fight.

i find myself identifying things that i'd like to do, but do not have the audacity or experience to actively pursue. honestly, i feel as if the only way they could be attainable for is in some alternate universe. maybe somewhere where there was no recession and people with 15 years experience and a Masters in that field weren't out of work and being considered for all, even those shining nuggets of entry-level opportunity for someone like me, positions.

i find myself getting frustrated with the (unwanted) advice people constantly award to me. usually it sounds gravely similar to a broken record and all those pieces of inspirational garbage that i've ignored so many times before. the repetition of these things doesn't encourage me to try harder, but instead upsets and destroys any motivation that i find myself developing.

realistically, i suppose it's all a matter of both perspective and of paying your dues. i'm still young, there's still time, and it will all work out. for now i'll just have to go back to counting my blessings for what i've been so graciously given. i will be thankful for the opportunities i do have, and for the people i have the pleasure of working near and learning from each day.