Hi all,

I am intending this as a serious topic, so I've posted it here. A little "sharing" time, if you will - and hopefully encouraging or inspirational to some readers.

I finished high-school in 2000, and I had no idea what I was going to do for a career. At the time, I had a part-time job at the local supermarket, collecting trolleys and returning them to the store for more shoppers to use. (I am pretty sure that Americans call them shopping carts). So when I finished school, I started working full-time collecting those trolleys. I used my brain, got good at it, started helping the other workers to understand the job, and generally made the boss happy. I've traveled half-way around Australia (Adelaide to Townsville along the coast - follow it on a map below, if you like) collecting trolleys. I became supervisor, and eventually was asked to run my own stores. I am the "boss" now, I employ a whole bunch of teenagers and it can be fun at times - and trying at times also!

Of course, this is a job, not a career. It was fine when I was single, it paid the bills and allowed a little extra for my wallet, but it wasn't that great money. But I pretty much have to work long hours, 6 days a week to be earning good money out of the business. And where does that leave me the time for my family, now that I'm married? I haven't had a holiday since before I got married. I've never had paid holidays, and rarely had two weekends off in a row.

I don't want my kid growing up to see an absent father. I don't want to walk in after a hard days work to find out my son is almost ready for bed - or worse, is already in bed.

So I set about planning for my future. Here was my list of requirements:

• Weekends off (or at least mostly, anyway)
• Decent salary to provide for my family
• Paid holidays
• A career that is a challenge

And of course, computers just rock! So I started looking in that direction.

So to throw this all into perspective, about two weeks ago I began to "see" it all in my head. I have not lost that vision since it started. I can envision my family in five years time. I can "see" how I'm going to provide for my family and also be able to spend enough quality time with them.

Next Chapter - ACTION!

I have told my head company that I intend to resign and study Bachelor of Information Technology. I have booked a week's holiday and told them I was going to resign and take my holiday, and then wait until I was accepted into university. They told me they would run my business for me for that week! (They pay me to run a business for them, and now they're going to run it for me?) They said they would be happy for me to stay on until the very day before I start university. Now that is above and beyond the scope of the contract we signed!

I went to apply already, but applications have not opened for mid-year intake just yet. As soon as they open, mine will be there!

I will most probably major in Networking, as this is where I can see myself working in my vision. Networking is not a great strength of mine, and I have no experience in any form of corporate role. And yet, I can see myself working at a school or university, where I will do my best to understand what it is the teachers are trying to extract from the IT infrastructure to deliver the curriculum as best they can, and how it is that I can help them to get it. Sounds geeky enough for me.

You've got to understand I've never had a vision like this before! I can "see" the kind of house we live in (not renting), the time we're going to be able to spend together as a family, the activities we will do together... And I'm not some kind of weirdo with a freak vision, it's just a dream about a career that I can actually see how it could work out.

So I've got the vision, I'm taking the steps, and now the next few years I'm going to have to knuckle down and get the study done. I want to do well in my studies, get the best marks that I can and get as wide an understanding of everything that I learn as I can.

Do you have a vision? Have you ever had a vision, but lost sight of it? Are you living out your vision, or taking steps toward it? It doesn't have to be about a career choice, but I'd like to hear it! Add a reply and let me know how your dreams are turning out - and what further steps you could take to ensure they happen!

I believe this applies to young and old, but everyone has the right to expect the absolute best from life - it's just that you have to make it happen!

Cheers, and all the best for the future, no matter what you choose to do.

"May the best of your past be the worst of your future" - I am unsure of the source!

Troy

An "epiphany", according to wikipedia, is "the sudden realization or comprehension of the essence or meaning of something. The term is used in either a philosophical or literal sense to signify that the
claimant has "found the last piece of the puzzle and now sees the whole picture," or has new information or experience, often insignificant by itself, that illuminates a deeper or numinous foundational frame of reference."

The important thing is that you recognize what could be improved in your life, and are taking positive steps to get to your goals. You can never go wrong with education, even if you become a master of networking and end up collecting butterflies. Skills you have learned with your old jobs will help you with your future plans. Education is an investment that always pays off, even if you end up learning that you like something else better.

Spending time with family is also important, and you won't be one of those dads that wakes up at age 50 realizing he doesn't know his kids, and they don't like him anyway. I know some fathers like that, and they are sad and have regrets. You sound like you have your priorities in order, and have a good future ahead of you. Congratulations on the decision to go to school!

Best of luck to you!
Johanna

Thanks Johanna!

An epiphany, eh? I like the interpretation of that word, it well and truly fits my mindframe. It's sad that at 50 years of age, some fathers still don't know their children. I love Reuben, and I love him so much! Simple, typed words in any kind of online forum cannot express that enough. I just find it totally mind-blowing that, weeks after the initial revelation, that the dream - or "epiphany", as you call it - is still so vivid and strong, that I can't shake it!

I feel like just some ordinary kind of guy who has this exceptional dream about what is going to happen - and what steps I can take to achieve it - to make it happen!

Thanks for your encouragement, and while this thread may be a little too personal for some, it just completely and totally illustrates what I'm going through at the moment.

While I'm at it, I'd like to extend my deepest thoughts to people who read this thread and just cannot comprehend what I can see in my mind - people who are totally lost in their life-long goals and dreams. I truly believe that your future awaits you!

Cheers

Troy

that's where i started...i didn't know MUCH about networking (and by much i mean next to nothing) but i know computers and their functionality etc.....i went into networking at ITT....my general knowledge of computers and hardware translated immediately into networking and gave me a leg up...it's a great field to work in if you can get a job (the US market tends to be saturated with us network jockies) but as i understand it...alot of australia is finally being populated and developed so you should be having a new job market opening up every day......which is the best time to get into a new field....on the upswing

Hi again,

Just in case anybody cares - I've applied!

Fingers crossed that I get accepted, of course...

Cheers

Troy

Best of luck Troy ... and hey, you have to be accepted ... it's all part of your vision and you already see yourself having achieved it five years from now ... so it's already happened

Troy,

I found your original post inspiring and I am sitting here weeping as I type this. I personally have struggled with the "What am I going to be when I grow up" question over and over. I am 33 and a stay at home mom/wife. I help my husband run our business and try to keep up with my boys! I have 4 children, 2 girls in school, and I have stayed home with them since just before the second was born, almost 8 years ago.

I love my children, I love my husband, I love taking care of our home and I am willing to continue to do so and to continue managing the office end of our business while my husband is out with clients...however, I feel like my brain has turned to mush and I want to challenge it a bit, also feeling that there is that ever elusive "something more" that I am supposed to do with my life.

I guess I am just bowled over by your description of your vision and goals. Congratulations on your application as well! I just wanted to know that your post was very touching. I will definitely be checking back for updates! Congratulations on your little Reuben as well....children are more work than anything I've ever encountered, but they are also more rewarding than anything I've ever encountered. It is truly a special love that words can never capture completely.

Troy,


Best of luck with your studies! Education is a wonderful thing. I'm currently 21 years old and working on my Bachelors in CS. (Possibly my Master's afterwards)

-Fade

Wow, sounds good. Reckon you could do my office work too? My wife doesn't help with my small business any!

But to the point, I'm glad that you read my post. The question is, of course, did it inspire you any? Do you have any plans or ideas to put into action? You could look into some study by correspondence, or take up a new hobby that will challenge your mind.

I would make some recommendations, but I don't know anything about you. Recently, my wife started scrapbooking, and suddenly she's right into it. There's a very nice book coming along - and yes, it's all about Reuben! Or you could start growing bonsai trees! Or, I don't know...

Glad to hear you're happy though, doing what you are doing, and I just hope that if you have anything in mind you'd like to do, then be inspired and look into it! Take action!

Cheers

Troy

Hi Troy,

Your wife and I have scrapbooking in common...I am a little behind, but some friends and I get together fairly regularly to work on our books.

I don't truly know that your post "inspired" me. It was more that it moved me, it touched me. I suppose I am a bit envious of your clarity and direction! Although I never, ever run out of things to do, I often lack the direction I could feel in your life! I don't know that I truly want to finish college right now or something along those lines...I suppose I feel more like I "should". I need to stop "shoulding" myself.

I think I am personally getting to a point where I am just fed up with apologizing for my life, LOL. And, although this is NOT the fault of others, it has to do with what other mothers say to me. "Oh, you're so LUCKY to stay home with your kids" or if they are other stay-at-home moms, then comments about not having at least a 4-year college degree...I truly do know that the reason these things bother me is because I LET THEM, not because I need to apologize. I chose to not finish college because I wanted to spend my time with my babies, and I was pregnant when I finished my last class for my 2-year degree.

I think maybe some of my feelings of a lack of direction have to do with that choice...but as I have thought about what you wrote and examined my own thoughts, I have realized that the choice, the direction of raising confident, happy children is enough of a direction...so, Troy, in this moment, thinking of your vision has made me realize that I am, in fact, fulfilling my own vision! Thank you!

This post has been edited by shawandamom: May 19 2008, 02:53 PM

Hi again,

This is - of course - the most important direction, in my opinion. The world needs more of this.

Cheers

Troy

Well just another update, to anyone who cares...

I've officially been accepted into:

Bachelor of Information Technology (Major - Network Administration and Security)



Bring it on! I have no doubt I'll have many questions... But I'm not going to ask for you to do my homework!

Troy

fixt

great choice....i think you'll have fun with it

Congratulations Troy! I'm sure you'll do great!

Regards,
Olrik

Congrats Troy and I trust you'll enjoy your new direction.