My tea has reached the Goldilocks zone of hot beverages. The one in which I won't subject my tongue to a steaming and, well, the tea won't be cold.
I'm not exactly sure why I'm writing this and I'm not sure I'll ever be moved to write another post ever again. But I just rather felt like it tonight. Today I decided to consider law school instead of academia. This is a pretty large leap for me, someone studying anthropology. It completely baffles me how this came around, but somehow it just kind of makes sense at this point. I want to achieve something in my life and make some sort of positive change that isn't completely arbitrary and personal. And simply put, I'm fed up with idiots who don't know what justice is (see below).
I think it was yesterday I heard about Malala Yousufzai -- fourteen years old -- shot in the head by members of the Taliban in Pakistan. She was attacked because she advocated for education. She was attacked on a school bus. Malala survived (meaning she's in stable condition after highly invasive brain surgery), but the Taliban says they plan to attempt the murder again. Something about this struck me on a personal level. This young girl, braver than anyone I know and thought anyone could be, was cut down for wanting something I consider to be one of the most fundamental rights of an individual living within a society. The fact that someone was shot for wanting something so simple as that in the year 2012 astounded me.
It got me thinking. Let's be honest. What am I fighting for if I get a Ph.D. in palaeopathology? What ideal would I be pursuing? Whose lives would I be affecting? And the answers to all of these questions were severely disappointing. I just find that I cannot live my life solely for myself when people like Malala are getting shot for what they believe. So... Maybe law.
More on this at a later time.
Night night.
Just a thought. While I find your ambition and heart admirable, I perhaps think you shouldn't make life decisions based on unavoidable evils. There has been, is, and will be horrible things in the world but (a) studying law will probably not help prevent such things, and (b) is it really the best decision to pursue a life where you are dependent upon others for your happiness and satisfaction?
ReplyDeleteI totally think that if you are not happy with a future in academia then by all means pursue other areas that interest you or move you, but I would be worried if you chose a future based on solving unsolvable problems.
I recently felt repelled by the state of academia and have decided to look into freelance writing (and possibly photojournalism) as a way of finding a path that fits. I hope you find a solution :)
Also, you have such a talent for writing that I think you would be wasted in a lawyer's office! You could write about the world without trying to change it, I would find trying to move concrete walls with my bare hands is too much effort for a lifetime!
ReplyDelete:) Thank you! I have been considering some sort of journalism for a while, and I adore writing and radio as media. I was recently thinking law in terms of social justice, which there is still a huge need for in the U.S. (everywhere I suppose). But yes, there's a huge bias AGAINST "justice" and happiness in such an aggressive arena. Then at the same time, I don't think I'd be okay with myself if I didn't try something to help out the down-trodden (cue dramatic hero music). I'm idealistic by nature, lol. But yeah, writing is definitely still in my sights and this is just something that's been on my mind lately :)
DeleteI suppose I'm just very pessimistic. I don't like the idea of trying to change things on a macro scale because when you put all your effort into something it is crushing if you fail... so why put yourself through that? Even if you got what you want, how long does mass happiness last? Does it even exist at all? I think the purpose of life is to find inner peace, and you can only do that by understanding yourself and what makes you happy. I think art is immensely important and I would implore you to pursue it if it fulfills you. Remember that creative writing can be infinitely more powerful than a government ;) Also there is plenty of despair, depression, sadness, anguish... all around so if you really felt compelled to help people then you can really make a difference to a few lives rather than making minute differences to many!
ReplyDeleteI don't expect to make a difference on a macro scale... I suppose it's a sense of duty I'm having that I'm trying to figure out how to fulfill. I think humanity is somewhat doomed to repeat its mistakes, and despite the efforts of everyone we admire for their human rights advocacy today, some paranoid guy (or gal I suppose) with a big red button could just blow us all up. But I really want to make a difference in the lives of some people. Some people who legitimately need help to simply live their lives as citizens. And charity is nice, but it also is a giant showboat for a lot of people. That's why I'm thinking law. And it is a little self-indulgent because I could do just as much "good" as a social worker or a nurse, but I want a teeny bit more authority than that lol. Anyhow, if that ends up not working out, I'll just open my used bookstore coffeeshop and write for the rest of my life. Which I'll probably do anyway compulsively. :)
DeleteWhen we combine our gifts with a meaningful purpose we discover inner fulfillment. This path to fulfillment, albeit perhaps rooted in a selfish motive, is really why any of us are here. Malala is seeking that same sense of fulfillment.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful you are seeking your destiny through meaningful purpose, and using your amazing gifts to accomplish this is the highest form of self-actualization.
I honour you my friend for this, and the world thanks you for being courageous, and willing, to shine your light brightly. metta
Thank you Tee! :) Hopefully I'll find that.
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