Song: Makes me wonder - Maroon 5, What I've Done - Linkin Park
"So what you gonna do after this? - If I get paid a dollar each time I get asked this, I'd probably be able to afford a hectare of the Amazonian rainforest by now.
2 days ago, I submitted the bound, booked, hard-covered version of my thesis. So technically, I'm done with my undergraduate studies. Now only waiting to officially graduate at the convocation around august, barring any problems.
Ok, well to avoid repeating myself countless times, again, here's my rough plan layout. Take a break. Work as a reseach assistant (RA) at my uni from july till end of the year. Pursue post-grad studies after that in molecular biology, specialising in phylogenetics.
Most annoying right now would be my parents (especially dad) talking about the options. I like to keep my options open too, but he's always skewing towards securing a stable job, earn lots of money. This came about because I tried applying for the HSBC Management Trainee Programme. I was just testing the waters, or perhaps more specifically my job-securing credentials. And now he goes on and on about it. Which really annoys me, as I think of turning it down if I get it (which is highly unlikely, anyway). And this is why I don't like telling stuff like these to my parents.
I've already mentioned that job satisfaction is more important to me, but I guess that's parents for you. Their mindset is different, where life's roadplan is already fixed - study, get job, earn lots of money, get married and make babies. Which to me all of these are just possibilities. *Gasp*. Yes indeed, I guess I'm more liberal that way. The idea of marriage freaks me out right now, and I seriously don't think I'm anywhere ready for it. I've heard about people meeting their spouses in college, people getting married as early as 20 or directly after graduating. Yikes! But erm, to each his or her own, I guess.
All this time too, I've been pondering my direction in life. I wanna do something that means something to me at the end of the day. Something that I can see myself doing for a long time. Which is why I don't feel like getting a regular job. Or working in a bank. No offence to people who work in bank, but I wanna do something that contributes to the environment, or at the very least society. To me, working in bank/factory/company etc only feeds a self-serving niche - a service that is created by the functional workings of society itself.
My original dream was to do something with environmental conservation, maybe something like working with the animals or something. Since my course of study has been diverted, and with rethinking and reconsidering my limitations and abilities; there has been slight readjustments to my plans. I plan to pursue post-grad in phylogenetics, and using that to discover and understand more on the phylogeny and evolutionary relationships particularly among animals. Perhaps even discover a new subspecies or a new perspective of certain genes. So my approach to environmental conservation would be more academic rather than field.
Well, yeah. Work that pursuits knowledge for the sake of knowledge doesn't guarantee a comfy lifestyle. When was the last time you heard of millionaire environmentalist? TV personalites notwithstanding. For me, the usual traditional/play-if-safe path isn't enough for me. It's hard, and the temptation is high to just plunk into a stable, dreary, 9-5 job. But I'll try to persevere and from time to time, remind myself that there is more to life.
"So what you gonna do after this? - If I get paid a dollar each time I get asked this, I'd probably be able to afford a hectare of the Amazonian rainforest by now.
2 days ago, I submitted the bound, booked, hard-covered version of my thesis. So technically, I'm done with my undergraduate studies. Now only waiting to officially graduate at the convocation around august, barring any problems.
Ok, well to avoid repeating myself countless times, again, here's my rough plan layout. Take a break. Work as a reseach assistant (RA) at my uni from july till end of the year. Pursue post-grad studies after that in molecular biology, specialising in phylogenetics.
Most annoying right now would be my parents (especially dad) talking about the options. I like to keep my options open too, but he's always skewing towards securing a stable job, earn lots of money. This came about because I tried applying for the HSBC Management Trainee Programme. I was just testing the waters, or perhaps more specifically my job-securing credentials. And now he goes on and on about it. Which really annoys me, as I think of turning it down if I get it (which is highly unlikely, anyway). And this is why I don't like telling stuff like these to my parents.
I've already mentioned that job satisfaction is more important to me, but I guess that's parents for you. Their mindset is different, where life's roadplan is already fixed - study, get job, earn lots of money, get married and make babies. Which to me all of these are just possibilities. *Gasp*. Yes indeed, I guess I'm more liberal that way. The idea of marriage freaks me out right now, and I seriously don't think I'm anywhere ready for it. I've heard about people meeting their spouses in college, people getting married as early as 20 or directly after graduating. Yikes! But erm, to each his or her own, I guess.
All this time too, I've been pondering my direction in life. I wanna do something that means something to me at the end of the day. Something that I can see myself doing for a long time. Which is why I don't feel like getting a regular job. Or working in a bank. No offence to people who work in bank, but I wanna do something that contributes to the environment, or at the very least society. To me, working in bank/factory/company etc only feeds a self-serving niche - a service that is created by the functional workings of society itself.
My original dream was to do something with environmental conservation, maybe something like working with the animals or something. Since my course of study has been diverted, and with rethinking and reconsidering my limitations and abilities; there has been slight readjustments to my plans. I plan to pursue post-grad in phylogenetics, and using that to discover and understand more on the phylogeny and evolutionary relationships particularly among animals. Perhaps even discover a new subspecies or a new perspective of certain genes. So my approach to environmental conservation would be more academic rather than field.
Well, yeah. Work that pursuits knowledge for the sake of knowledge doesn't guarantee a comfy lifestyle. When was the last time you heard of millionaire environmentalist? TV personalites notwithstanding. For me, the usual traditional/play-if-safe path isn't enough for me. It's hard, and the temptation is high to just plunk into a stable, dreary, 9-5 job. But I'll try to persevere and from time to time, remind myself that there is more to life.
"life is to make a difference that you ever live at all." this sentence just pop up in my mind as i read your post. it's from a book which title and author i've forgotten(told you i'm bad with names).
ReplyDeletewho doesn't love to remain in their comfort zone? but there are people who'd go out to venture and give life a new definition. if u feel it's your calling to be an environmentalist, then don't just dream about it. i see you making a decision to do post grad in phylogenetics is already a first step!
# if i'd comment honestly: God has made you in such a way that's so enthusiastic about environment, surely He needs you to reveal more of His creation in this field to other people, people whom He didn't make to be an environmentalist. to me, i'm glad that you've known the gift/tool you have, and now, your direction. not everyone knows what is his purpose of life (Rick Warren -- the purpose driven life) because he doesn't know his gift/talent, and they live, for the sake of living.#
p/s: crap, i thought phylogenetics is about plant genetic, haa ha, so it's about animals huh..
Heya! Been a while since i read ur blog. Precisely what i am going through right now! I guess its the same for all of us graduates. Especially those who think that money isn't the top on their agenda in job seeking.
ReplyDeleteI guess our parents meant well when they just keep on telling us that we need money to live *as if we don't know that* Personally i haven't been so clear cut in my goals yet. However, i would like to work in the industry to gain some experience before going back into academia.
K... gotta go... to a boring social appointment (where i'm dragged to my mom's friend's house)... and having people as me: "So what r u going to do next?" haha
I do understand ur need to make a difference in this world ;). So i wish you all the best! Coz i certainly hope i could some day contribute to the society at large too. Lots of Money (as naive as it seems), isn't that important to me...