Comments on: Passionless Pre-Professionals

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:57:46 +0000

What a great post! These are the stories that I love to read about. I have spent many years in the vicious cycle of starting school, stopping school and each time I start back I think I have my degree plans all figured out, well that is until I start back to my first class and realize why I keep quitting school. It is because I pursue studies that I think will be good for me and provide a good living. Unfortunately I never listened to my heart and kept pursuing degrees that made me miserable. I also like to create and that is what makes me truly happy.

For years I kept ignoring my inner voice telling me that I need to forget about the job title, the money, what other people want and just do what makes me happy. Now, at the age of 38, no degree and 14 years deep into the field of telecommunications, my heart, mind and soul have taken over and basically forced me to make a decision. I cannot continue on with this dull line of work. I am so ready to make the move into work that I am passionate about that I just can’t wait to get started back to school.

Thank you so much for being on my side and keeping me focused on a more fulfilling life.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:29:51 +0000

Thank you for such an insightful post. I have a year until I graduate college and after reading this, I feel much better. My GPA is also “in the toilet” and I despise classes/exams/homework in which I merely memorize information for each day. I would much rather be creating, designing, and programming. Your inspiring. Thanks.

this quote is so true: “I called these “side projects”. But in reality, school was the side project.”

By: shawnhorton.net » Blog Archive » Passion

shawnhorton.net » Blog Archive » Passion — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:01:20 +0000

[...] came across a post by Rob Goodlatte entitled “Passionless Pre-Professionals.” I cannot agree more with his post. Everyone should be passionate about work; it is after [...]

By: automatic_ab

automatic_ab — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:37:12 +0000

I’m so happy that you were able to find out what you loved to do and follow up on it with success. I too realized that I love to create. I never really had anyone to push me in the right direction and tell me that I could do whatever I wanted. You know, a vote of confidence. I’m finally starting to realize how to do things…and I’m 33. I guess it’s true what they say, “Better late than never.”

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.
– Ecclesiastes 9:10

By: boomhauer

boomhauer — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:55:40 +0000

Good read, and mirrors my life choices. Though college was boring at times, so are many aspects of life and running businesses etc that are not all fun either (paid your taxes lately?), so I pretty much considered university my big test for how well i can do in life if i try hard… and thus made myself keep a 4.0.
Now that I’m in my thirties, I can say this life choice has been exciting and I wouldnt trade it for anything, but on the otherhand: I still work 12+ hrs/day (and most weekends), Ive been single most of my adult life, and while Ive had years where I made huge $, I’ve also had years where I literally made nothing. So though I love what I do, I also think the formula is fine for most (other) people. ;)

By: Molly Bierman

Molly Bierman — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:48:51 +0000

Hi, I saw your comment on my blog, thanks for reading, I just wanted to say that your website is really really impressive! Keep up the good work and congratulations on the webby award!
Molly

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Tue, 06 May 2008 08:07:14 +0000

I agree with the Good Latte. Grades are overrated and often contraindicators of a few things. The smart move is to essentially figure out what minimum grades you’re satisfied with (e.g. 3.0, 3.4, etc) and budget your time such that you achieve those grades. Use the rest of your time, however, to whoop it up.

If the hypothetical equation is 7 hours a week of studying for a 3.7 vs. 20 hours a week of studying for a 4.0, the former is the better option. Spend the remaining 13 hours a week doing the things college coeds do (e.g. the hibbity dibbity) and getting experience at a real job.

Bam.

By: greg m

greg m — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:27:59 +0000

hey dude, great post — i can only say as a fellow dukie,major kudos to you. i did the same thing as you, sacrificed grades to follow my passion and it was so tough in that environment, but it was by far the best decision i’ve ever made in my life

By: Justen

Justen — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:12:34 +0000

it’s sadly telling that there’s so little controversy in the commentary here. Maybe the traditional college environment just isn’t keeping up with the needs and demands of real life.

I knew before I finished high school that the typical classroom environment wasn’t for me. I graduated at 16 and went right to working; I’ve struggled a lot, and I mean a lot, to get to the point of doing what I want and making money at it, and I’m sure I’ve missed a lot of the social experience of college and the benefits of formal education in the process.

What haven’t I missed? The maddeningly slow pace of an education system built to raise the lowest common denominator into mediocrity while instituting needless roadblocks and busy work to slow down the pace of the bright and driven. I haven’t missed the authoritarianism, I haven’t missed the pointless social competition.

I’ve learned what I wanted, when I wanted (and my appetite for knowledge is voracious.) I’ve had time to develop my interests and the freedom to leave a career behind once I knew it wasn’t for me, unburdened by student debt or the fear of wasting years of education. I’ve worked in entirely unrelated fields and met the same kind of people in each: real people with diverse interests and needs, and lifestyles driven by things other than, and not served well by, big paychecks.

Which is more valuable? I don’t know. I wouldn’t take my choices back though.

By: Carly

Carly — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:31:14 +0000

It’s been a long crazy trip, hasn’t it Rob?