So, I guess now is as good of a time as any to discuss my different ideas for what will happen in my life after I graduate, next year. This is the epitome of what I mean by limbo. I'll break this up into 3 general options, as that may possibly make the final decision easier closer to the time: these are Masters, Career or Internship/Work Abroad. The plan is to refer back to this throughout the year as I get more information and things become more concrete. We can see how things change then.
Masters
I always wanted to carry on education for as long as possible. For my entire life, it's really all I've known (never having held down a job for very long). But that's lost it's appeal. Probably due to having been in it for so much time; and the fact that it doesn't feel like I'm going anywhere. I could just get my BA and be done with it - start slowly working off my debt. Really though, that's not enough. The way things have gone, a Bachelor's really isn't worth anything anymore. So many people have them! Of course they have had to put the work in; it's not exactly easy. I just wish it was more prestigious (not by only making it available to those who can afford it). I always did well in school, it's clearly just the way I work. But I also know people who always struggled in school and still got a degree. So what does it even mean?
Obviously, the further you go into education, the more specialist your studies are. Like I've mentioned briefly before, my interests (specifically in anthropology) lie in minority populations and questions of identity. And, as always, there's the draw with Plains Tribes. That's very do-able. Especially if I was to go to America where Native American Studies is available wildly - it's not very big here in the UK, understandably. I figured it would only make sense to go that far if it involved the possibility of some field research - so that rules out the coasts, and thus the 'bigger' unis (in CA and NY). I spent an obsessed week or so trawling through the internet, going State by State, to look for the best courses in areas that might work. I came up with a list of 14; 2 of my very favourites are Ball State U in Indiana, and New Mexico State U, for the flexibility they offer. Even then I'd say they were on the borders of the precise area I'd want to visit, but it's close enough *probably seriously underestimating the size of the country - again*. What I didn't take into consideration was the cost - I didn't dare. I already knew I couldn't afford it. But then I realised that with the way the system works in the US, it would probably take at least 2 years of study. Adding tuition fees and living expenses, in order to do this, I would need about £50k. Cheers. If it ever happens, I'm probably going to be at least 30, and by then I would already like to have a career.
Speaking of which...
Career
I've changed my mind so much about this question. My first ever dream, when I was just a kid, was to be a zoo keeper. I still wanted to do that when I finished college (and subsequently went to Northampton Uni/Moulton College for a year intending to do a BSc in Applied Animal Studies). I think I would still enjoy that even now, but what that one year taught me was that I'm not made for any kind of practical work. Especially not with sheep. Goats have always hated me too... Ruminants... Where does that leave me with buffalo?? Anyway, I had to get more realistic about what I would do. More important to keep in mind was that I had to be happy in what I was doing. Otherwise there's no point. And ultimately, what I want is the freedom to travel. If that means having the money to do so, then so be it - but I'll never sell my soul (keep me away from the marketing world!).
Somehow, I got the idea that HR could be a good option. I looked into it. Depending on the company, being ivolved in HR could mean a variety of things. Ultimately though, it stands for 'Human Relations', so it is dealing with people, and (in theory) making the work environment better. So it's appealing. And because it's business, it could include a considerable salary. But then again, because it's business, how much does the human element actually come into effect? It might also be impossible for me to break into since my degree straddles the social sciences and humanities. No economics at all (reckon I could reference Marcel Mauss "The Gift" in an interview? Or score some points with a fascinating overview of hunter-gatherer economies?). To be honest this is my most likely path - I'll go to the careers advisory in the next few months for help. They may actually be able to help me with this. They were never very good with handling some of my other ideas (even the zoo thing seemed ridiculous to them).
Another idea, which I don't know whether it's even an official job or not, is in community development. It would probably be governmental, right? Hope that doesn't mean I should understand the ins and outs of politics. That's beyond me. If this is something I can pursue, then I really think it will have to take me out of England. There's no community here. Or, I've never experienced it. I've lived in the same house my entire life, but I don't know the neighbours, and I'm not sure there are any community centres or services around. That won't bode well in an interview. Perhaps I ought to be the person to try and introduce it, but I just don't have the heart for it. Not here, I mean. I don't know - I only got this idea after coming accross a fair few volunteer projects abroad in this field.
Internships/Work Abroad
There are a million chances to volunteer overseas, in places that really need it... if you have thousands of pounds to spare. I have some savings, which would afford me a couple of months somewhere "exotic". But after my 7 month stint in Japan, I can really appreciate the benefits of being away for an extended period of time. I value the everyday; and anticipate the unknown becoming the known. So, if I want to go somewhere for a minimum of 6 months, then I am going to have to be paid whilst I'm there.
Again, America crossed my mind - Native communities. But I can't expect for places as poor as that to put me up somewhere and then to pay me. They need volunteers. I would happily do that on the side of work, if travelling to the reservations (or community centres for those tribes who don't have any land left) was viable. The only things I could find that are really nearby are in some of the national parks; working in either the forestry department or catering & hospitality. It doesn't... excite me in any way (other that that I'd be in a national park - that would be phenomenal). It's an option though. Something else that came up was internships at businesses in the big cities. Well - that could be my first link to a potential HR career. And I would like to go to New York. It's not the plains, but there is something magical about it. Anything in the States is bound to be competitive. I'll definitely try. At the end of the day, if I just want out of the country for a while, then I can always teach English. Don't think I'd make a very good teacher, but English is my language! Surely that can't go catastrophically wrong! In particular - this one programme in Guatemala stood out to me. It involves community deveopment, and you can get a BTEC in leadership, too. I don't speak a word of Spanish, but I plan to take classes next year. You can go to so many places if you speak Spanish...
Like everything else right now, I just don't know what's going to happen. But these are all options. They're far from inconceivable. It's just a case of making it happen (not everything, but you get the drift). I wonder what things happen to different people in their lives that puts them on whatever tracks. There are just so many options! And for some people, none of this is even important. They just want to get by comfortably, and that's fine. I couldn't do it. Maybe I'm just greedy.
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