Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with lifeplan

I will be the supreme ambassador between the humans and the machines!

SinisterPurpose — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:05:21 -0800

What are the possible pitfalls of my new life plan? Okay, I've been accepted back into my alma mater (UWGB) with plans to pursue a second B.S. in Computer Science. My B.A. ended in 2002 with a double major in Humanistic Studies and English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. It has been a struggle to find employment in which my education is viewed as an asset. It's been a struggle to find work in which these skills are even relevant. In short, it's been a struggle.

I have four strong reasons for choosing to do this now. 1) The economy. Unemployment in my area is right around 10 percent and I am included in that number. Rather than hustling around trying to scrounge another unsatisfying job, I'd like to use this time to learn a new skill set. 2) Interest. I have always had interest in technology and programming, but never pursued it at any length because I had decided that I was terrible at math. I no longer think this is the case and have decided to stop limiting myself. 3) Weariness. I am just plain sick and tired of the the constant attempts to legitimize my previous coursework to employers. 4) Self-Actualization. I don't have any regrets and I don't wish to change the past. The pursuit of my B.A. and the places and friendships it has brought me have enriched my personal life in ways impossible to enumerate. But I feel a strong desire to study this field and am actively excited to overcome the obstacles which it presents.

Also, I have strong reason to believe that my previous degree will mesh well with my proposed degree. I see a very distinct and discernable value in the ability to communicate aspects of computer science in the layperson's tongue.

The pursuit of my prospective degree will not be anything like the pursuit of my first degree. There will be no general education classes. There will be no electives. I will be immersed in Comp Sci and supporting Math classes non-stop for approximately two and a half years. It will be intense. But that's kind of what's exciting me about it.

So now to the primary questions: What am I missing? Are there fundamental aspects of programming and computer science which I am not fully appreciating which should further inform this decision? Am I mistaken in my thoughts that the two degrees will combine well together? Do any of you have experience with a radical career course correction?

I look forward to any information you see fit to share with me. Please don't feel hemmed in by the specifics of this question. If you have information, anecdotal or otherwise, which you believe would inform this decision, please share it. If you require further information from me I will be actively monitoring this thread. Also, feel free to use the email in my profile to contact me if you prefer.

Thanks to all in advance.

BrainFilter: What is my major malfunction?

DecemberRaine — Mon, 21 May 2007 10:23:16 -0800

I am a 24 year old female at a pivotal point, and I need to address some serious personality and behavioural issues before I can figure out what I want to do with my life. Where are things going wrong here? So, a bit about me. I'm 24 y/o in relatively good health. I'm overweight, but have never had a problem with blood pressure, cholestorol, strength, flexibility, etc. I have lost about 60 pounds in the past year and most of the time feel quite well. I don't get a lot of planned exercise, but I do walk 20 minutes to work and back each day. I have had a history of hormone imbalance - never tested out of whack enough to treat, but I was started on birth control at age 14 to control my cycles, and took it off and on for almost 10 years. I am now off and my cycles are regular. I was once diagnosed with Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome though and do still notice some of the other symptoms associated with this.

From the age of 9 to 22 I struggled furiously with anxiety attacks, most often brought on in social situations. They were never treated, didn't know what they were until they started to go away. School was always easy for me, and I eventually learned how to do the least amount of work possible to get what I needed to get. I always did projects, essays and reports at the very last minute, and rarely did homework. I studied for exams the week before finals, sometimes the day of the exam. I graduated high school with an 85% average.

This system failed miserably in university, however, because I had no idea what I wanted, let alone needed, to achieve. Thus, I did no work. Actually, I passed a couple courses that were distance ed where I didn't listen to any of the lectures or read the textbook. I studied the course notes the night before and slept in the student lounge. Wrote a 60% on the exam. I drank and smoked a lot of pot in university to deal with the anxiety and ended up in a lot of debt with only half of a degree. I got involved with a married man and things ended horribly, as they tend to do.

(enter the upswing)

I move back to my home town, get a convenient job, meet some wonderful people. Job changes, move in with some friends, have a pretty good situation going on. I am happy, healthy, and involved in some wonderful, honest friendships and other relationships. Now I'm looking for the next step.

I am making enough money right now to pay my bills. I have the ability to also work from home in my spare time, but for some reason, not the motivation. I feel like I'm not sure where I'm going. Mentally, I'm struggling. I feel out of focus. I spend all my spare time repeating conversations in my head, daydreaming about conversations I want to happen (and more importantly, practicing what I will say). I have a hard time sleeping with this constant dialogue running through my head, and when I do manage to sleep deeply, I have a very difficult time waking up, mostly because I always just want to rest "a little bit longer". I write in my blog and spend a ton of time chatting to people online (mostly people that I'm sleeping with - I also seem to have a peaked libido). I do manage to get out of the house (when I'm not going to work) at least once a week, more during the summer as the weekends are always busy. Oh, and I work the midnight shift, so I sleep in the afternoons.

This isn't a self-confidence issue. I am totally comfortable with myself and who I am. I know that I am smart and if I can focus myself on something and really want it, I can do it. But I feel as if my mind gets stuck in a feedback loop. I used to spend a lot of time counting things (ceiling tiles, etc.) or counting out notes on my fingers when listening to music, being picky about making sure that my stride is the same length as the sidewalk blocks (not because of superstition, just as something to focus my attention on I think). I am "habitually ambiguous" in almost all of my day-to-day communications with people. I don't do well taking orders, mostly because I don't feel like the people giving them are worthy of my service - but someone who has a naturally dominant personality and is smart enough to understand my needs could, with the right amount of encouragement, at least motivate me to get *something* done.

I keep tossing back and forth "what I want to do". I know that I want to go back to university, but for what? Philosophy, psychology, women's studies, nursing - all things I've considered, and with my university background, all doable in 1 year part-time and 1.5 years full time. That will require me to pay off my debt (about $8,000), so that I can qualify for student loans. I currently make $12/hour working at a call center which is dull but tolerable. I know that working a couple hours a day of SOLID work from home, I could probably double my income. I was self-employed for almost 2 years, and always made *just enough* to get by, because I was only working *just enough*.

I should add that I am a fairly regular pot smoker. As with most other things in my life, I tend to binge. I will smoke a lot at once, but I also go several weeks or more without any (a couple years ago it would have been several months without any), and the behaviour is not improved. This started years before I had ever smoked a joint.

So, finally, my question. What on earth can I do to focus myself? Do I need therapy? Prescriptions? A good hard slap in the face? I am willing to entertain all suggestions here - behavioural therapy, drugs, herbs, books, meditation, getting a Chia pet, whatever just throw it out there.

What should a Physics grad do until grad school?

mai — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 17:45:42 -0800

My friend was sadly rejected from all of the physics grad schools to which he applied. He wants to apply again next fall, so in the meantime. . . What should he do to make himself a more appealing candidate the next time around? What fun adventure of a life should he have in the next year? These two things may hopefully be one and the same. He got a good GRE score (>900) and had okay grades. Was surprised by all the rejections and would like to have better luck next time around. What can he do to impove his chances? What job or internship or project or tactic will help?

Additionally, he needs a plan for the next year of his life. He enjoys Northern California, creative writing, the outdoors, drawing, and of course, physics. He's outgoing and friendly and funny.

Ideally, his life plan for the next year will fatten his CV, but it need not - his mind is open to anything exciting.