Marie's Weblog

So I’ve decided to start blogging again after perusing through my old LiveJournal posts. It’s amazing how much you can grow in a measly three years.

Without pictures, diaries, blogs, etc, how else would you keep up with your memories? I swear if it weren’t for my phone, I wouldn’t remember what to do past tomorrow.

I’d usually try to think of something witty to say since it’s my first blog in forever, but I’m so brain dead it won’t even matter. I suppose this is a good way to remind myself of what a lame-o I was 3 years from now.

Sohel says I should write about my goals. Turns out I already have a long-winded post about that on the TSP forums. I guess I’ll just copy and paste. Hehehehe. Cheating on blogging. How sad.

Here’s the question posed by a young collegiate student:

Ask Marie:

so here’s my take on this…
i was raised in one of those typical asian families where they basically grind it into your head that SCHOOL IS A MUST. however, as i’ve grown up, i’ve learned that there isn’t one set path in life that everyone should follow. you can definitely make a living without school, but if you do have a degree (as stated above in previous posts), your job opportunities are greater. greater job opportunities lead to greater experience and more money.

having mentioned money… it may sound kind of shallow but we all know it’s true. having money may not make you happy, but it sure as hell makes it easier to live.

i currently attend UH full time student and i work full time at a company that takes care of clinical trials for the big drug companies. i’m starting my fourth year of college and quitting school now isn’t really an option i even consider. i see school as one of my major commitments in life. having a college education never hurt anyone, right? given that there are those scenarios like your cousin’s friend with the marketing degree and fills vending machines (which kind of saddens me because i’m a marketing major) lol. i really don’t see myself heading into the direction of vending machines. who knows? maybe he just settled for something less… maybe he didn’t market himself the right way to land a good job… or perhaps he just ran into some bad luck with his career.

the reason i’m writing so much is because i feel very deeply about the situation. i believe if you have the means to go to college, you should go. there are tons of people who can’t afford to go to college who are busting their balls to even pay for the tuition at junior colleges. college will help to make you a more well-rounded person and will educate you on things that you don’t just pick up on out in the streets. you have the rest of your life to work and learn what the “real world” is like after college. why skimp out on a good education when you have the chance now? i know a lot of people who have dropped out of school and are currently trying to continue their education. it is VERY difficult to go back to school once you leave.

i graduate in a year with my marketing degree, i’ve busted my chops trying to get my career path straight. i started college and got an internship that paid 8 bucks an hour. i worked realllllllly hard to show them that i wanted to learn. interns are a bunch of fuck-ups. i am no exception. the whole point is to get experience. the more dedicated you are, the more educated you are, the more people will realize that you have the passion and the potential to grow. after summer ended, they offered me a job. one summer of experience took me from 8/hr to 15/hr. MONEY IN THE BANKKKKK. lol. 3 months to almost double my pay. granted, i was very lucky to work for a company who was willing to pay me that much as a college freshman.

sadly, that job ended. i never thought that i’d lose that job, but i did. downsizing is a biatch. you learn to just roll with the punches. life changes so quickly, but the one thing that held constant for me was school. i used school as a way to get myself a job actually… i made it a point to let them know that i was hell bent on finishing my commitment to school. i think for the most part, companies like to see that you have goals. so, instead of being a lame ass and sitting around, i busied myself with a plethora of other career choices. i worked in travel, i dabbled in sales. now i have this job. after i have my degree, i’m joining their business development group. as a full time employee, i have really good benefits. they offer to match up to 5% of what i put in my 401K, they have medical, dental, and vision. OH. and they’re paying for part of my school.

dang. that was long. cliff notes? be cool. stay in school. life is fun, learn everything you can. work hard, stay dedicated. show people you know what you want and they’ll help you get there if you get them to buy into your vision. set up some long term and short term goals. this will help give you some direction if you feel lost. write them down so you don’t lose sight. (these goals may not necessarily deal with just your career goals, but your life in general) goals change over time, but who says you can’t amend them? come up with some motivational things to keep you going. this is going to sound really gay, but here’s what mine are:

1. be accountable
2. be responsible
3. be a leader
4. use your girly power

number 4 may not apply to you. lol. women are on the rise. this is a society that protects women and their rights and i’m sure as hell gonna use it to it’s fullest extent. remember to use all of your resources!!! friends are a good way to network.

6 month goal: train to run 10 miles
1 year goal: finish school and graduate
life-time goal (which i’m sure are like most people’s): settle down, have a family, be successful in my career, take care of my parents