For some reason I have been thinking about how I got from point "A" to point "B" recently. Don't ask me why, I just happen to do this from time to time. Some of this reflection might have to do with being at the "10 years out of high school" part of my life. Some might have to do with a wandering mind.
10 years ago (almost to the date) I arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus. I was going to be a band director. Yup, no questions about it, that is what I was going to be doing. Sure, there was going to be fun stuff to do but I was going to be too busy working on important stuff to be sidetracked. Somehow I ended up in a Philosophy class (I really don't remember signing up for it) that would open my mind to a different way of thinking.
Ask questions? What? Am I qualified to discuss (and dismiss) ideas and beliefs that people have put on pedestals for centuries? According to Andrew Coen, "Yes". It was a really great class, it was also the first time that I realized I could have ideas that were different and that was "OK".
What maybe wasn't "OK" (at least for my music ed degree) was that in the spirit of the great philosophers I began to question many things. "Why should I do this?" "Who says it has to be that way?" "Is that a fact, or just a perspective?" I quickly discovered that life was not going to be a series of yes and no questions for me. (Is it for anyone?) So, my freshmen year ends in me going home for the summer with little academic direction.
Before I move on, one important thing needs to be mentioned here. I discovered a really good group of friends that year. So good in fact that we are still in close contact with each other. We just spent a weekend together earlier this month. At the time though, I had no idea...we just drank beer together!
Back to the story....when I arrived home I realized why I was going back to college in the fall. I simply did not fit into the Chippewa Valley mold anymore. I still had great friends at home, but things just weren't clicking anymore. (Those of you from Chippewa reading this, no slight intended. I think you would agree) I spent that summer working two jobs and swimming whenever I had the chance. I don't know why I went swimming so much...
I got back to college (finally) and that fall I had my first music ed class. About two weeks in I knew that this was not for me. So...what am I going to do now? It turns out that I am doing the exact opposite of what most people do at the end of their sophomore year. Rather than declare a major, I am walking over to Records and Registration to have "Music Education" replaced with "Undeclared". This wasn't all bad, I was still in good standing as a music major and this allowed me to catch up on some general classes I would need anyway.
This is also the year that I decided to make Stevens Point my new home. I got an apartment with my friends and became a "townie". Interestingly enough, this is the summer where I really grew up. I got a job, paid some bills, got a library card and even had my first telemarketer call for me. This was a really good time...I will always sit back and smile about this.
Junior year starts and ends about the same way. I still am not quite sure what I am doing or why I am here but at this point I am over half way done with whatever it is that I am trying to do and it seems silly to turn back. I am discovering that I like working on things, I like the people I am around and I like the city I live in. If that isn't general enough, I have decided to declare my major to be a Bachelor of Arts in Music. What that means is that I have taken the necessary amount of credits to get a degree and since most of them were in music that means my degree is in that field. (I realize that this sounds a bit cynical, but this is how I felt at the time.)
For the sake of time, lets fast forward to 2006 where the morale of the story happens...I am now living in Minneapolis and looking for a "real" job. I had been working for a photography company and teaching private trumpet lessons for the past 4 years. I thought things were going well, but I had no idea what was to come.
I saw this job posted...tech support at an elementary school. "I can do that." I had never done it before, but I was confidant that I could learn whatever I needed to know. It turns out that I am OK at this computer stuff. After six months at the elementary school I found myself in the position of "technology specialist" at the high school.
I accredit this success to my years as an undeclared student. It enabled me to remove the blinders and see that it is more important to be successful at life than specialize in one area. I have been paid money to photograph, swing a hammer, sort sheet music, push a broom, run a photo lab, play trumpet and currently to help shape the direction of technology in a local high school.
So, what's the point? Well...I dunno. I hoped to have one by now, but I don't. I thought for sure that putting these thoughts down would sort them out and give some direction but maybe not. Maybe later this week I will have some more thoughts on this. Here are some pretty pictures in the meantime...
Both of these images were taken while at my friend Craig's cabin a few weekends ago.
1 comment:
Lovely, Hakala. Both the pictures and your ramblings. Always a pleasure.
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