A Ship Without a Sail, I Am...

Entry for June 14 2008 @ 1:09:00 am EST

Ow.

That sound you just heard? It was me running smack into a wall of ignorance. Luckily for me, it was a personal faux pass , and not something glaringly obvious to anyone who knows me...

So, what was this great transgression, you ask? It can be summed up in three simple words: Lack Of Planning.

I returned to school, oh, about four years ago. I knew I wanted to learn something useful, and I've always loved anything that involved technology, so I set out to learn all about electronics, figuring I could get an Associates Degree and start charging people to fix stuff...

Then I discovered programming. Bam! Time to switch majors! No problem, right?

Well, more or less. I really just wanted to learn enough programming syntax to get a nice little cubicle job. Give me some code and bugs to fix, and I'd be happy...

'Cept there's no degree for mindless code ant. The best you can do is a Bachelors Degree in CIS, or Computer Information Systems. Which is a Business (read: management) degree. I don't want to be anybody's boss. Cubicle. Code. Busy busy busy. Remember? Sigh.

Then I find this other degree. Software Engineering. Woo. Sounds neat. Let's do that instead. Okay! Cool...

Hmm...

The other night, I was asked when I was supposed to graduate. I don't entirely know, 'cause the class scheduling is somewhat wonky. Then, I get asked the question that has me sitting here kinda numb....:

"So, what do you plan on doing for work when you graduate?"

Followed by:

"And where do you think you'll be working?"

...

...

Crap.

I have absolutely NO idea. And I just realized that scares the hell out of me, and makes me a bit angry, too. People who are almost thirty years old should have a clear idea of where their lives are going...

And I just realized I don't.

:(