I’m Only Going to Grad School Because I Don’t Want a Real Job
Posted by Lauren | Under Working Class Angst with 1,487 views Friday Nov 9, 2007I am shivering in an internet cafe at the UP Shopping Center because my first class on my first day of grad school did not happen. I keep forgetting that I’m liek, under the government-subsidized education system now and unlike my super-expensive, super-elitist undergrad university, professors here are not liek conyo enough slap us in the face with 70-page readings on the first day. I figured that this would happen and almost decided to spend the morning plowing through a backlog of articles at the office instead of showing up at class. Truth is, I’m only going to grad school to get an MA in Creative Writing because I don’t want a real job. The Facebook group I created sez so.
I’m a girl. And I don’t sleep at work. Rly.
While waiting for my professor to show up, the impracticality of what I’m doing with my life suddenly hit me full-force. Despite occasional bouts of working class angst, I’ve grown rather fond of my blue and white cubicle of mouselike proportions. Sure, I spend a good chunk of my time at work dicking around Facebook and thinking about all the things I’d rather be doing instead of writing articles on androgenetic alopecia. (Which is not to say that I never got any work done. Even with all the time I waste destroying kingdoms in Warbook, my PM told me that I’m one of the strongest writers in the team. Huzzah!) Incidences of sexual harassment and minor food poisoning aside, the office was safe. The office was predictable. The office had free internet. The office gave me money.
What I’m doing, basically, is cutting off a source of stable income and SoDexHo gift checks to pursue my dreams of becoming a writer, musician, and glorified bum.
I must be more insane than I thought.
You know what the sad part is? I don’t even get SoDexHo gift checks because that’s something only regular employees enjoy. I become a regular on the fifteenth. Guess what today’s date is? (Hint: NOT the fifteenth)
As to how I intend to get the cash to finance my ridiculous artistic endeavors – let’s not even go there.
This is me in two years. Beard and all.
Figuring out what you want to do — that’s easy. Figuring out if what you want to do is good for you — can anyone even answer that?
Kayz, I type my resignation letter nao.
Oh your office also give away SoDexHo GCs? Mine gives away GCs too. I got GC from them. Once. A hundred bucks worth of GCs. A year ago to this day.
I once heard a wise man say, “You can not succeed without the risk of failure.” You’re taking that risk, and I’m sure it will pay off.
i declined your facebook invitation only because i already have a post grad degree
ahhhh…… i changed my name just for this comment!
scary thing that could happen is having a post grad degree and still, things don’t go the way you expect it to be.
At least you have the option to go to grad school. I don’t. *emo tears* And I’m too lazy to go back and finish my Thesis. And so I’m stuck. Bye bye, dreams of having an MA in History.
GAH. I’m planning on resigning and getting out of the call center blackhole. Except I wait for my 13th month bonus first. And then snail mail my resignation letter.
Tried UPOU (UP open university) a couple of years ago. After a sem of it, I quit. The money spent for it wasn’t worth it.
@ Ade – Yep, but we get more than you do. 1k per month.
@ Derek – Well I certainly hope that it will! I’ve always been a pretty big risk taker anyhow. I hate sitting around and waiting for things to happen.
@ Jayvee – You suck Jayvee.
@ Lisa – Things never really turn out the way you expect them to. Because, uh, that’s how life works? Hey aren’t you the same person who called me burgis for not being ashamed of the fact that I bleed out of my vagina? FYI I got my period today. And I’m bleeding profusely between my legs. Be scandalized, pplz!!11
@ Helga – Aww hon, it’s never too late to go bad to skuel. I meant to wait til after December to quit but with classes being held during work hours, there’s just no way I can juggle both schoolwork and sweatshop writing. But hey, at least you’re employed!
I went to grad school because my parents didn’t want me to get a real job. Well, I finished a year ago, and my job (or jobs) isn’t what you would exactly call a real job. Hahaha.
Laur.. We are gonna miss you at the office.
Lucky you, though. At least when you finish MA, your salary will butt-rape (haha) our salary. That is if we still work here. Hehe.
Take care, honey. Enjoy UP. Hehe.
having a masters doesnt necessarily guarantee a good job in the future actually. sure it looks good in the resume, but the more important things you learn from grad school is the contacts who you can network with later on.
Why not study and get a teaching job? I’m sure you’ll do good as a teacher (schoolpaper adviser). I’m halfway done with my M.Ed and working in school with the kids made me learn a lot. Anyway, good luck to you!
@ Noelle – A “real job” is just a stupid concept really. Everyone expects people to become an office drone after college.
@ Coco – I knooow, I’m gonna miss you guys too. And strangely enough, I’m going to miss going to work. Haha. But I’ll still be swinging by whenever I can.
@ Jayvee – Good point. I’m also there for the academic learnings tho. Tiem to suck up to my professors and classmates!
@ Van Kristine – I’ve actually been playing around with the idea of an academic career since I was in college. Depending on how well I do in grad school, and how much my professors like me, I might just end up doing that. I think I’d make a fairly decent teacher. The type who’d overwork students so they can make the most out of their tuition, haha.
hi lauren. i totally agree on the last sentences. if going back to school is what you want then i’m pretty sure it’ll turn out to be a good thing.
i believe we are former officemates.
welcome to UP!
I quit from office three months because I intend to pursue and finish my MA in Film.
goodluck to your endeavors!