As we approach the end of our college careers, we're forced to consider what our futures will be, or at least the direction it should take. I'm at that stage now, having to juggle a div3 with job opportunities. You know, Naomi, a good friend of mine from the admissions office last year, once said that Hampshire students in their final semester had it opposite most other college students in their final semesters. Most college students find their final semesters to be smooth and easy, a time where they can nicely transition from the university world to the 'real' world, so to speak, the business world if you will. Of course, I'm no more sure that the business world is the 'real' world then the university world, but I'll go with the prevailing majority and say it is more 'real' then uni, although it's still a fiction. Anyway, Hampshire students find that their final semesters are the most stressful semester of their college career as they're simueltaneously writing/finishing a div3 and figuring out what the hell they're going to do after college.
After all, Hampshire doesn't really prepare us for the 'real' world. That is its explicity stated goal - not to turn out prepackaged businessmen and businesswomen. We train independent thinkers here (or at least, that's what we're aiming at), not corporate stooges. It's easy to teach people to be good little peons in the system, to set them up to find a mind-numbing 9-5 job without reward. What's more difficult, and ultimately more rewarding, is a Hampshire model which trains people how to learn and how to love learning while also giving them a physical product to be proud of: namely, a div3. It's stressful as hell, but far, far more intellectually stimulating, and I really wouldn't have wanted to do it any other way.
That brings me back to post-Hampshire. Or rather, leads me to look post-Hampshire. Of course, my post-Hampshire might not actually be post-Hampshire, as I'm seriously looking at applying for a position as an Admissions Counselor since we're losing two this year. I'm good at selling Hampshire - I like selling Hampshire to prospective students and their families. And it would be ideal to stay up in the Amherst area for a few years until I can figure out more direction to my life - also so I can raid my uncle's library. Over the past week I've discovered that my uncle is a veritable goldmine of books I want to read and should read, and I know he enjoys my company. Plus, I know the area and I like the area and it's starting to feel like home.
Plus, working as a Counselor gives me a certain level of work experience and provides a great jumping off point to continue my life. It'll give me some time to apply for internships, fellowships, and jobs more in lines with what I'm planning to do with the rest of my life, which is somewhere along the lines of saving the world. Like every other Hampshire student, I want to save the world. It also gives me time to continue refining my div3 and all my ideas.
So after that, I don't know. Hell, I don't even know if I'll get the job. But it sure would be nice.
After all, Hampshire doesn't really prepare us for the 'real' world. That is its explicity stated goal - not to turn out prepackaged businessmen and businesswomen. We train independent thinkers here (or at least, that's what we're aiming at), not corporate stooges. It's easy to teach people to be good little peons in the system, to set them up to find a mind-numbing 9-5 job without reward. What's more difficult, and ultimately more rewarding, is a Hampshire model which trains people how to learn and how to love learning while also giving them a physical product to be proud of: namely, a div3. It's stressful as hell, but far, far more intellectually stimulating, and I really wouldn't have wanted to do it any other way.
That brings me back to post-Hampshire. Or rather, leads me to look post-Hampshire. Of course, my post-Hampshire might not actually be post-Hampshire, as I'm seriously looking at applying for a position as an Admissions Counselor since we're losing two this year. I'm good at selling Hampshire - I like selling Hampshire to prospective students and their families. And it would be ideal to stay up in the Amherst area for a few years until I can figure out more direction to my life - also so I can raid my uncle's library. Over the past week I've discovered that my uncle is a veritable goldmine of books I want to read and should read, and I know he enjoys my company. Plus, I know the area and I like the area and it's starting to feel like home.
Plus, working as a Counselor gives me a certain level of work experience and provides a great jumping off point to continue my life. It'll give me some time to apply for internships, fellowships, and jobs more in lines with what I'm planning to do with the rest of my life, which is somewhere along the lines of saving the world. Like every other Hampshire student, I want to save the world. It also gives me time to continue refining my div3 and all my ideas.
So after that, I don't know. Hell, I don't even know if I'll get the job. But it sure would be nice.
