Which Road To Take?

I recently took my first steps into the world of work. This is how I’m juggling not having a clue what to do, with the attempt to cling on to my identity.

When I say I have recently began in the world of work I don’t mean I’m pouring pints on a Wednesday down The Albert while John reminisces on his acne filled days while some Ye Olde Pig Stout trickles down his face (Yes mate I can’t wait until I’m at your glorified heights). I’m talking full on office 9–5 (8.30–6 in reality) turn up and do your shit or take a bollocking, professional life.

Now I am in a strange position in my new world, surrounded by 6 figure salaried ‘I.T professionals’ only a stones throw from the University I graduated from less than a year ago. Walking through the grounds where I am used to rolling around in some daisy chained romantic view of the world, complaining of how hard essays are because I actually have to focus on something harder than comparing alcohol prices is pretty ironic. I mean, I still think have conversations on how terrible David Cameron is, it is just now that I have them in a suit.

It is a tough pill to swallow, seemingly throwing in the towel on years of idealism and I’ve found entering this role as the first taste of the unfairness of things, or as the upper echelons will probably think of as the simple progression all newbies have to go through. I say its tough to take as a lot of graduates I believe are taking jobs like me, that they never envisioned themselves in. I mean, making 80 calls a day to miserable I.T teams trying to sell them a product I barely understand…living that YUPY dream right here.

The one think I have taken from my first few months is that is is essential to hold onto tangible dreams you have created and held with such allure throughout your formative years and fully concentrate on keeping these goals genuine and attainable. All of this forms to gives a higher purpose to the 9–5, slog and gives something similar to a silver lined truth during those moments when the empty blue screen seems to drain your positive, creative energy. For me for instance it’s saving up to provide the foundations for a project that will turn derelict wasteland on an underprivileged Sri Lankan Tea Plantation into turfed sports fields. This isn’t a self righteous rant but rather an example of what I believe to be the purpose of a job in a time when many young people are awake to the shortcomings of selling out to a career for simple material gain. Use the obvious necessity to work to create a better future for the world and in doing so yourself.

It’s never a bad time for a bit of soul searching

I guess the crux of what I’m trying to get at is the solution of which path to take, i.e whether to throw in the towel and leave the picket line or stay on and ride the anti-establishment wave into the setting sun Hunter Thompson style is neither. Use one to reach the other and don’t lose sight of yourself.