posted
I enlisted in the Air Force a little over two years ago because I didn't think I had any other options. My class rank was 385/435 and I thought that I had effectively screwed myself out of college as an immidiate option. I found out later that that wasn't necessarily the case.
Now I work in a capacity almost completely unmarketable except as a semi-civilian working for the government, and find myself thinking more and more of my life after having done my time. I have enough money for college now after the GI Bill but have no real idea of what I want to study. I am a couple of credits from an Associates Degree in Farsi, but how far can I ride that?
Bottom line: I am interested in Literature, Law, International Politics, and History, but am worried about committing. The last thing I want is to re-enlist because I'm scared and unprepared to enter the "real world" but hate myself because I consider that a real option and fear all my others are pipe dreams.
I realize no-one can do anything about how I feel or what I've done and am going to do, but I am interested in what you Hatrackers think. I'll take anything any of you are willing to share.
Posts: 1156 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
With your interests, you sound like a perfect college professor. Take advantage of the financial assistance and get yourself in school. You can always change your mind if something else sparks inside you. Committing to something doesn't necessarily mean you have to ignore any future options.
Posts: 6 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
Oh wow, that sounded horrible. Except for your wife, of course. If you commit to a woman you should definitely ignore those other flirtatious options. But career-wise, let yourself dream.
Posts: 6 | Registered: Jan 2006
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posted
I feel that being twenty affords me the right to keep my options open in pretty much every aspect of my life. The scary part is knowing that not changing anything is more than acceptable. It's too easy.
Posts: 1156 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Don't worry. Moving from the military to a college education is not only a very real option, but it's also a very successful option, from the few cases I've seen. I've known people in college who took that path, and they were successful without exception from what I saw. I believe this is because the combination of discipline needed to survive in the military and enough of an interest in academic things to choose to go back to school is a combination that leads to success in college. There is no danger of excessive commitment because, unlike the Air Force, you can leave whenever you want for whatever reason you want. And you DON'T have to have a "real" idea of what you want to study - finding that out is part of the value of higher education. If you can say you are interested in literature, law, and international politics then you are already ahead of the game. It sounds like you are very much ready.
So, if you want to learn more, go! And if you want to switch to a career that entails a college education, then by all means go. If you change your mind later, many many other options will still remain, including back to the Air Force. The skills you have now will not go away, and you will learn new ones if you get further eduction. There only reasons I would think you wouldn't want to go is (1) if you like what you can do now and want to continue it, or (2) if you just want a job that makes you money - those are available without college. But if you want to improve yourself, or study certain fields, or learn a certain profession, or move into a specific career - college is an excellent option, I believe.
Posts: 8120 | Registered: Jul 2000
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