Posted on 06/26/2002 8:51:07 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Recent graduates be prepared-not for the life ahead of you; we know you have that figured out. No, be prepared for plenty of old people asking you boring questions about your future: what job are you taking, what college are you going to, where are you travelling, will you break up with your sweetheart? You're best memorizing a little monologue that you can recite every time someone asks.
The truth is, they're curious because they're somewhat envious. They wish that, when they were 18 and had their whole lives ahead of them, they knew what they know now.
By now, many of them are bitter with regret and disappointment. It'll take discipline to keep them from living vicariously through you.
But, believe it or not, many of your older friends and relatives do have some worthwhile advice for you. And we at the Times have decided to indulge you-or ourselves-by dishing out two bits of our own.
Older People Don't Know Everything
Our first bit of advice is: Be careful about what advice you get.
Even old people with huge regrets are, paradoxically, convinced about the rightness of their ways, no matter how wrong they are. So, when you need to know about an important subject - school, taxes, money - ask several different people and then make your own decision.
Making your own decisions is one of the most important things in adult life. And for God's sake, don't take the advice of anybody who advertises on daytime television.
Follow Your Bliss
Were you the kid who failed science because you were too busy drawing planets in your notebook? Did you fail gym because you were too busy practicing guitar in the music room? Or maybe you were the one who failed everything because you did impressions of your teachers that made everybody crack up.
If that's so, don't feel ashamed about what you couldn't accomplish. You were distracted, and often times, it was by something valid-an interest you had that seemed more important than anything else.
You may have received criticism for your inability to focus, but maybe, deep down inside, you already knew what you wanted to do in life, whether it be art, music, comedy or any subject that doesn't fit the traditional mold.
Realize what it is that you do well and enjoy. Chances are, if you believe in yourself enough, you can do it better than anybody else and make a good living, too.
Translation: do whatever you want, shirk responsiblity and call it a "following your dream." Then, when you find you can't support yourself, demand government benefits and/or a "living wage" from the "eevile greeedy rich."
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
No, it MIGHT have only been satire if every other sentenced was punctuated with "man" or "dude." And even then one can't be sure.
Someone has been watching Joseph Cambell! PBS, of course.
And to add fuel to the fire here BLL, did you catch the weekly column by Michael Serino, A late-night encounter on The Commons?
That one sent me into a Blue Rant!!!!
Sorry, I don't swallow that tale of woe, not one bit!!
I was the kid who failed stuff because I was too busy playing with computers and practicing with my band.
well, the band didn't stay together, but I'm a computer and network systems tech.
oh well, at least I still play guitar. suckers.
Ithaca accepts students who didn't pass high school? Wow!
Egads, what a load of pure crapolla. Who wrote this nonsense?
Or maybe you were the one who failed everything because you did impressions of your teachers that made everybody crack up. If that's so, don't feel ashamed about what you couldn't accomplish. You were distracted, and often times, it was by something valid-an interest you had that seemed more important than anything else.
...or maybe you are just a loser who will soon be wholly dependent on the government for food and shelter because you didn't take you future seriously...
I was surprised by the Serino column.
Serino is usually what passes for a voice of reason at the Journal. In fact, he has often been critical of the fact that Commons is often overrun by the mentally ill (a position that has gotten him in hot water with the enlightened). I can only assume it was "suggested" that he show a little "compassion" towards them by the powers that be.
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
I believe that this addresses Ithaca High School, not Ithaca College.
In any event, if they failed everything, HOW DID THEY GRADUATE!?!?!
Social promotion, I guess.
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The drug trade in Ithaca will be thrilled to have more stoners and pushers.
Envious to be 18 again!!! Living vicariously through them!!!
No way dude.
So if your parents want you to go to college, and your looser friends say, "why bother" you should take a vote? Or do you follow your "bliss"?
This world is run by OLD PEOPLE, in case they have time to look.
Point mostly taken, but making candles is a perfectly respectable occupation.
If you can make a real living out of it, that takes a work ethic and some understanding of business.
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