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Adulthood; When the hell did that happen?
Topic Started: Apr 9 2011, 06:12 PM (6,379 Views)
meh
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1st Lieutenant
 *  *  *  *  *  *
Everything is in Modern Standard Arabic.
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Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

Hey Meh, setbacks happen and afterward the only thing we can control is how we bounce back. You're driven and have all the necessary skills to push forward. I'm confident you'll find another opportunity and will capitalize on it.

Keep your chin up. ;)
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
So, after the requisite amount of "liquid courage" and time spent doing nothing, inspiration finally hit me. I've started my own blog, yet again. The intent being to post regularly and create a following for my writing, or, at the very least, to keep my skills in good practice until I can find an appropriate career.

Any suggestions for improving my blog or my craft? Anyone wish to assist me with mutual follows or promotion? Most importantly, any tips to make myself post regularly and interestingly enough to be relevant?
Edited by Aelius, Jul 13 2013, 12:16 AM.
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Sedulius
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Field Marshal
Keep writing.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
I've been reading!
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
What are you reading? I've been doing that a lot now, poolside!
** almost burnt to a crisp **
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
New Harumf
Jul 17 2013, 09:14 AM
What are you reading? I've been doing that a lot now, poolside!
** almost burnt to a crisp **
Aelius's blog.

Other than that, I just read lots of internet stuff on the market/stocks. I've been trying to read a physical book about youth basketball (aau system), but I'm not getting very far.
I am hoping to coach soccer myself, so I see it as relevant and informative for my goals there. Whenever I finish that I want to read Moneyball... Love the movie...

I would also like to read a book about Vanderbilt. Focused on his business story and skills in that area. He fascinates me. That "Men Who Built America" series got me even more hooked on learning about the industrialists.
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NRE
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman

So contrary to popular belief, I have been jobless since graduating two years ago. This has been a stressful and exhausting time for me as I'd been fortunate enough to live off odd jobs throughout college in the hopes that a career would be obtainable after graduation. However, after a year looking into the education field I found nothing in my area (an I did not and still don't have the means of moving for a job) and even after expanding my search outside of education, my inexperience in the workforce held me back (like Home Depot wouldn't even hire me).

However, I have just recently FINALLY found employment which for me in means a little money in the pocket and the coveted experience that you have to have it seems to get anywhere. So I apologize if I've been slow lately but I've been adjusting my life to get ready for employment which I start next week and given the hours, I should adjust quickly and still have the time I enjoy having to devote to this community that I have enjoyed for many years now.

Of course as I begin this slightly above minimum wage job in the retail sector I've also considered going back to school and perhaps seeking a career in another field. Frankly the education field just isn't there and while I've never had aspirations to live the high life, I do want to live comfortably an I don't believe I'll be able to do that in education.
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
NRE
Aug 17 2013, 10:11 PM
So contrary to popular belief, I have been jobless since graduating two years ago. This has been a stressful and exhausting time for me as I'd been fortunate enough to live off odd jobs throughout college in the hopes that a career would be obtainable after graduation. However, after a year looking into the education field I found nothing in my area (an I did not and still don't have the means of moving for a job) and even after expanding my search outside of education, my inexperience in the workforce held me back (like Home Depot wouldn't even hire me).

However, I have just recently FINALLY found employment which for me in means a little money in the pocket and the coveted experience that you have to have it seems to get anywhere. So I apologize if I've been slow lately but I've been adjusting my life to get ready for employment which I start next week and given the hours, I should adjust quickly and still have the time I enjoy having to devote to this community that I have enjoyed for many years now.

Of course as I begin this slightly above minimum wage job in the retail sector I've also considered going back to school and perhaps seeking a career in another field. Frankly the education field just isn't there and while I've never had aspirations to live the high life, I do want to live comfortably an I don't believe I'll be able to do that in education.
Glad you finally got back in the workforce, man. What kind of work are you doing?

I wouldn't necessarily just give up on the whole education idea yet, especially if it's something you want to do. Society needs good educators, especially as people seem to be continually getting dumber. If nothing else, you might go into a different field you're interested in, and then with some experience in that field, you may try to go back to teaching for that specific field. What else are you interested in?

On another note, my birthday's in two days. I'm not that excited about it, but I did write a blog post about what it's like to turn 24.
Edited by Aelius, Aug 22 2013, 02:41 PM.
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Sedulius
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Field Marshal
I haven't finished my degree yet since I am sick. My girlfriend wants to elope, so I am trying to think of the fastest way to gain a job good enough to provide for a couple (and a baby ideally, just to be safe). I have a year's worth of work left on my degree, which I will eventually finish, but given how hard it is to get jobs in this country lately with a Bachelor's degree (mine would be in International Languages, and I'm not fluent in any), I am leaning toward going through a tech program. Mum suggested network security. Apparently they are in high demand and low supply, and they get paid a buttload. I would love to just finish my degree, but I don't think it is the smart way to go as it cannot guarantee me a good enough job.

What has this country come to? It's sad.
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
On a similar note as Sed, I've begun making new plans. I've outlined them in more detail in a blog post, but I'll skip to the end for the purposes of this conversation.
Quote:
 
As it stands now, the ideal plan for me seems to be to bide my time and save money until an acceptable living space opens, while at least keeping an ear open and an eye on job openings elsewhere that I want, since I doubt Stillwater is going to be able to provide me with something better than I currently possess. At that point, once I have my own place, I should probably continue to save money and see about maybe taking some sort of vocational program to give me other skills that I could use to get a job, perhaps IT, network security, or something else with computers. They seem to be the cleanest technical skill that I could master, and the only thing I know in greater demand is the health care field, which I have no interest in. (Blood and other bodily matter makes me a bit squeamish, particularly human waste.)

The only reasons I could see myself deviating from this plan are that:

  • I get a better job offer using my current skills (writing, journalism, etc.) in the next few months and can pursue that as a career.
  • Friends back in OKC or another part of the country (or a potential girlfriend in the future, which is less likely) secure a place to live and want me to join with them on this. While I may not be able to get a better job than what I currently possess that way, it would at least be a lateral move; I'm sure I could work at a convenience store/grocery store/retail store anywhere for similar money.
Neither of these seem extremely likely in the near future, at least. Most likely, 2013 will end with me living in my own apartment in Stillwater, working in the same place I do now, and trying to see what I can make of my life from there. For now, though, I guess it's just a matter of keeping my nose to the grindstone and securing funds.
Edited by Aelius, Sep 13 2013, 05:51 PM.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
Stiofan
Sep 12 2013, 07:03 PM
I haven't finished my degree yet since I am sick. My girlfriend wants to elope, so I am trying to think of the fastest way to gain a job good enough to provide for a couple (and a baby ideally, just to be safe). I have a year's worth of work left on my degree, which I will eventually finish, but given how hard it is to get jobs in this country lately with a Bachelor's degree (mine would be in International Languages, and I'm not fluent in any), I am leaning toward going through a tech program. Mum suggested network security. Apparently they are in high demand and low supply, and they get paid a buttload. I would love to just finish my degree, but I don't think it is the smart way to go as it cannot guarantee me a good enough job.

What has this country come to? It's sad.
This country has come to the point where a degree "opening doors" just isn't worth it. You can no longer just go to college and get a piece of paper. Sure, that piece of paper may still open doors for some people, but across the board unless you pick your major carefully the piece of paper is not worth the cost it takes to earn that piece of paper.

With the cost of college today, it just isn't smart to go and get a degree in something you cannot use to get a good paying job. It is sad, but it is reality.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
But . . . we need art appreciation!
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Menhad
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ET2(IDW)
Kinda just venting so bare with me.

So my command has high turn around rate, most people get one year orders out here, especially the senior leadership, and on one year orders you spent about 1 month checking in and 1 month checking out. So by the time you get settled you're heading out the door. Since I've been here I've had 4 different Chiefs, and three LPOs. Because of the high turn around here I've stepped into many roles that normally would be filled by people with a few more years in and a few more chevrons (rank), I've been doing all this with the expectation of being rewarded (Better Eval/Awards). So my latest Chief (Who just made Chief of this last cycle) and my newest LPO are of the mindset that Thirds only do, well, bitch work. They've looked me in the eye and said that I'm one of the go to guys around here, but in the end all my hard work will be for naught. Recently we just got a batch of second classes in, so my chief is now chopping up all the jobs I do and giving it to them.

My main collateral, Work Center Supervisor, was a complete mess when I took over. Some quarters had RARs (Recorded Accomplishment Rates) of ~60%, where as I've been making sure that 100% of the maintenance is being done on time and correctly. But because of the high turn around my current leadership wasn't here to see what it was like before I took over, and my leadership who saw all the changes is gone. Come Eval time I'm afraid I'm going to get screwed (again, but that's another story). Because the evals rankings are decided by a board of all your command's first classes and chiefs, I fear my Chief and LPO aren't going to fight for me the same way some one who had seen everything that had happened. Also I'm going to have less stuff to put onto my eval, making it harder to argue my case, because they are taking it away from me.

It makes it really hard to care anymore, so I've adopted the mentality of fuck'em.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Every time a Chief or LPO left you should have asked for a personal memo of your accomplishments be given to you, or put in your record. I guess it is a little late for that now, but that would have been my suggestion if you had brought this up earlier. Trust me, same thing happens in the private sector. My company moves managers around all the time and it sucks.

I hope you either get a glowing eval or a really bad eval you can protest. I know getting a middle-of-the-road eval can be death in the military. Good luck, but please give a little bit of a fuck so we can still win wars!
Edited by New Harumf, Sep 30 2013, 11:53 AM.
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Aelius
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Norman Warlord
So after a particularly disastrous weekend at work, I've decided to restart my job search with full enthusiasm. Back in March and April, I felt really burnt out after getting so many rejection letters, but I think it's high time I return to OKC, or find somewhere else where I can begin to forge a real career.

I've already applied for a position as an advertising copywriter back in Oklahoma City and am looking into other freelancing opportunities as well. Keep an ear open if you hear of any job openings in your area, wherever you are. If you can directly help me get a job somewhere, even better.

Time to get the irons back in the fire. Can't just sit out here forever waiting to die.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
Hoping my investing becomes more important than my day job.
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Ulgania
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
This seems appropriate.

I realized the body of work I put into this place can't be shaken off so easily. You guys did something weird to my brain wiring and now I'm back - a little.

These days I'm a proper digital marketer with a salary/savings/fiance/apartment that I think of as a home/cat. I also run a growing blog (www.midter.net) with its own not-terrible Twitter (www.twitter.com/midternet) and a rather crappy politically progressive Facebook page (www.facebook.com/progressus). I did get the privilege to intern for a not terribly bad PAC, Democracy for America, and run their Facebook for a while (https://www.facebook.com/DFAaction).

Nowadays I'm a freelancer while I look for a real job. That real job is a little hard to get so getting strange, mystical clients has been my calling. Right now I'm helping sell a book on safe teen driving for parents (boring, but money), and helping a non-profit across the country teach women how to defend themselves/physically maim would-be rapists (fun, also money).

So that's an update?
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Ulgania
Oct 23 2013, 06:48 PM
This seems appropriate.

I realized the body of work I put into this place can't be shaken off so easily. You guys did something weird to my brain wiring and now I'm back - a little.

These days I'm a proper digital marketer with a salary/savings/fiance/apartment that I think of as a home/cat. I also run a growing blog (www.midter.net) with its own not-terrible Twitter (www.twitter.com/midternet) and a rather crappy politically progressive Facebook page (www.facebook.com/progressus). I did get the privilege to intern for a not terribly bad PAC, Democracy for America, and run their Facebook for a while (https://www.facebook.com/DFAaction).

Nowadays I'm a freelancer while I look for a real job. That real job is a little hard to get so getting strange, mystical clients has been my calling. Right now I'm helping sell a book on safe teen driving for parents (boring, but money), and helping a non-profit across the country teach women how to defend themselves/physically maim would-be rapists (fun, also money).

So that's an update?
Well, about what I would expect. A pinko-commie resume if I ever heard one! What about your tea blog? Are you still doing that?

Oh, it might interest you that one of my co-drones at Lonestar College is an expert on all things Steam Punk! He gives lectures and writes papers on the subject!
Edited by New Harumf, Oct 25 2013, 11:00 AM.
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flumes
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CLEVELAND ROCKS!
So if I can offer one tiny piece of advice... If you are looking to save for retirement, which you should be doing ASAP open a Roth IRA account. Huge tax benefits and no cost to do it. Basically, if you are going to save you might as well do it this way. :)

There are differences between a regular ira and a Roth ira. Both have benefits, but the Roth is superior.
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Ulgania
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A better Zarathustra has never rode a horse
Oh yeah, so a bit more about this whole ~adulthood~ thing. There's an election today and I did a bunch of last minute campaign work last night for an assembly candidate in VA, and starting tomorrow I'm starting a big pile of social media coordinating/consulting with a progressive from NJ. My resume is getting p awesome
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
I voted. Tried to save the Astrodome, but idiots in Houston proper killed it. Now instead of creating something useful by selling bonds, they will have to tear it down at a huge taxpayer cost! Idiots.
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Nag Ehgoeg
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The Devil's Advocate

As I sit here, in my Superman pyjamas, watching my 108" TV, I do wonder...

Is this adulthood?

Spoiler: click to toggle
Edited by Nag Ehgoeg, Nov 12 2013, 05:52 PM.
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Rhadamanthus
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Legitimist

Nag Ehgoeg
Nov 12 2013, 05:39 PM
As I sit here, in my Superman pyjamas, watching my 108" TV, I do wonder...

Is this adulthood?

Spoiler: click to toggle
Ideally, yes.
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New Harumf
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Bloodthirsty Unicorn
Rhadamanthus
Nov 12 2013, 07:07 PM
Nag Ehgoeg
Nov 12 2013, 05:39 PM
As I sit here, in my Superman pyjamas, watching my 108" TV, I do wonder...

Is this adulthood?

Spoiler: click to toggle
Ideally, yes.
Damn, I hope so! Only difference is I sit naked!!
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