I have never considered myself a man of fear but a man above fear. One of my favorite movies, one I just watched recently with my girlfriend who has somehow never been exposed to a Batman movie, is Batman Begins. The theme in the film is overcoming your fears by putting them in their place and maybe even channeling them into a purpose. My fear as a child was the terrible, ominous dark. I thought I overcame it then. My dad, hopefully with my consent (although I can't remember), would put me in dark rooms by myself to overcome my fear. And it worked as far as I'm aware. I don't remember being scared of it all that much as a child, and it's been a long, long time since I thought someone or something was following me as I quickly ascended unlit stairs to the safe haven of a room with a light switch. (If your reader voice is out of breath from that sentence, then you understand the feeling of trying to get to that light.)
But it's not really the dark children are scared of, is it? It's the unknown. The dark is a stand-in for the unknown and all that comes with it. What I've realized--more recently than I would like to admit--is that the best way to overcome the unknown is to depower it by making it known. I don't mean making the unknown known in any particular way other than understanding the unknown exists for everyone. So in that way, the unknown is quite known.
My unknown for the longest time was my career. And actually, it still is. My takeaway from a career class I took in 2018 was that major doesn't matter as much as an ability to adapt coupled with a growth mindset does. I think I looked at majors as shackles rather than keys. I was so concerned about picking the right key for the right door that I didn't realize the door doesn't lead to a single path. A college degree, no matter what it is, propels a person forward. Forward is the direction I want to go. I shouldn't be scared of forward. There are many vehicles carrying me forward, and at anytime I can put one of them into park.
So yea. I'm a Management Information Systems major, and we'll see where this vehicle takes me.
Road to the Unknown
I'm totally a fan of the just-keep-going philosophy, Drew! Planning is good... not necessarily because things will go according to plan (hey, pandemic!), but because planning is a way to think, reflect, to make choices, to build momentum... but at the same time, that momentum might lead you in entirely new directions! I'm one of those people who has a job that didn't even exist when I was in college (most people were still typing papers on typewriters when I was in college, and I made money typing people's papers since I actually liked to type). But then: here come personal computers. And then: here comes the Internet. Science fiction has become reality. So, it's a good thing I read all that science fiction when I was little and that I learned to type, ha ha. In some ways I am jealous of college students today because you have the Internet; my college experience would have been totally different if I had had the Internet... but at the same time, the unfolding of events means that I got to be an online education pioneer, boldly teaching where no one has taught before (cue Star Trek theme music)). And as an MIS major, there's no telling where the technology will take you... but I bet it will be something you might not have even imagined! You can use this class to practice letting your imagination run wild; it's a useful skill. :-)
ReplyDeleteDrew,
ReplyDeleteI really like what you said about forcing the unknown to be known, simply be recognizing that it exists for everybody. I think a lot of people get boxed in by their own view of themselves and what they experience, that they forget that most of the people around them have no idea what they're doing either!
I also appreciate your view on the arbitrary nature of major choice, and the metaphor of keys and doors you used to convey your initial beliefs about major. I was caught up all of highschool and a lot of the beginning of college to make that decision and picturing a major choice as something that propels you towards many options as compared to a single key that will only open one door is much more accurate and honestly puts me at ease with my own career path.
Anyways, very nice introduction. Good luck with all of your endeavors!
Hi Drew! What a coincidence that you opened your post with a mention of Batman Begins--over the break, I actually added that movie to my "to-watch" list, although I haven't gotten the chance to see it yet. (Sounds like I need to get to it!) I love how you use the idea of fear of the dark and consider the ways that it is just fear of the unknown. I think that's so true. You're not alone in not knowing what the future might hold. I knew what my major would be before I came to college, but even now, when I'm about to graduate, I still have no idea what my future career will be. The future is waiting for you to get there, but in the meantime, enjoy the journey! :)
ReplyDeleteHello Drew!
ReplyDeleteI think it's always really nice to take initiative when it comes to facing your fears, something I haven't mastered just yet. As a kid, I definitely had a fear of the dark as well and would have certain nights where I just couldn't fall asleep because I felt like someone or something was in my room watching me. Luckily, I have overcome my fear of the dark in general, usually walking through my house in the pitch black because I have become familiar with it.
I got very lucky when I was deciding my career path because of my own personal circumstances and where that's led me, but my major was still a point of anxiety for me. I knew what I wanted to do once I left undergrad, but I had no idea what I wanted to do with my undergraduate career.
Wishing you a happy journey to wherever your vehicle takes you!
Hey Drew,
ReplyDeleteAwesome outlook on conquering fears and finding your career. I'm glad you came to realize that early on, and paired with your forward/growth mindset I'd say you'll be set for success regardless of where the road takes you. I too was scared of the dark as a kid, but I was scared of being outside alone. Finding a battle buddy is another tool to conquering all of the unknowns that life has to offer! Best of luck this semester!
Hi Drew! I really like the mindset that your major does not project what your career has to be. Just finishing college with any degree is amazing. It took me two years of college to figure out what major I wanted to pursue and I am about to graduate in May and I still am not set on what job I want to take on next. I wish you the best luck on what you decide to do. With your mindset, I am sure that you'll be positive about whatever you may choose!
ReplyDeleteHey Drew! I'm surprised Batman Begins is your favorite movie! Most people I know prefer the Dark Knight out of that trilogy. Your thoughts of the unknown ring true though, and I heavily agree. The unknown isn't something to be afraid of though, rather, it can be something to motivate you to keep going forward. I see the unknown as an adventure, and that mentality is what helps me take leaps of faith when it comes to my education, career, and social life.
ReplyDeleteHowdy Drew! I really like your take on how once something is known it is no longer quite as scary. It makes me think of getting a shot. The anticipation, watching the needle, is always many times worse than the tiny pinprick that is the shot itself. I also liked your point about how major doesn't matter as much as ability to adapt and grow. I was once taught something similar which is that being satisfied with your career doesn't come from what you do so much as how you do it. I wish you the best of luck in the rest of this semester and wherever your career path takes you!
ReplyDeleteHey Drew,
ReplyDeleteI don’t think you understand how much I needed to hear/read all of what you just wrote. I have struggled with the unknown of my major for a while now and it’s been worse recently. I thought I was going to read your introduction and learn more about you, but you actually gave me a great pep talk and I appreciate that. I wish you well in the future and good luck on the rest of your journey.
Hi Drew! Your explanation of the fear of the unknown is exactly why I get overwhelmed when thinking about my future. Like you said, we just have to remember that the feeling is common among everyone so we shouldn't put too much pressure on ourselves! But, of course, that's easier said than done. While I'm here, I'll reply to the post you left on my intro blog: I did hear about the Avatar studio! I'm super excited to see where they take the franchise and hope it doesn't lead to anything like that live action movie
ReplyDeleteHi Drew.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful revelation. I'm so glad that you've discovered how you can use your college degree as a key to open new doors, and I believe that the right ones will open for you. Who knows? Maybe the degree won't even be the important part, but the people that you sit next to while getting it (or the people that you see in small squares on the right side of your screen). Good luck with management information systems. I don't envy that key because I could never get the degree to obtain it, but I bet it starts a sweet Batmobile.