February 2, 2008

Entry =)

Maybe you readers can help me…

You see, I don’t know what I want to do anymore. So I’ll show you the options, you give me your input.

This is about the job I go for once I’m out of the Army…

When I joined the army… I wanted to get the school money so that when I got out, I could go to school for Computer Programming, and learn to make video games. That’s my dream job.

I don’t think that job would pay TOO well, but I think I would be happy making video games for a living, and I’d be able to live comfortably.

However, since I currently know NOTHING of programming, It would require going to school once I get out, which means I’d have to work some temporary job until then (Brooke might be able to hook me up with Disney World,… We all know they have computers there).

And sometimes I worry that I may not have what it takes to be a programmer. I strongly believe that if I put my mind to it, though… I can do it.

After all, I do know HTML! See! Colors! I do all my entries in HTML.
And I also

know how to do

wonderful tables and

Other such complex things like…

Marquees and…
hyperlinks and other such stuff. Just check out my Site.

But anyways… Now that I’m closer to getting out of the Army… I’ve been… approached by a few people who have offered me some tempting jobs…

The first tempting offer is from Raytheon. They are a contracting company that works for the army. They send you to the shitholes of the world (Iraq, Afghanistan, Doha, Saudi Arabia, Derkastan), but the pay is guaranteed 6 digits. SIX. Let’s count the number six, Count Dracula style (Sesame Street)

1, Ah ah ah!

2, Ah ah ah!

3, Ah ah ah!

4, Ah ah ah!

5, Ah ah ah!

6, Ah ah ah!

Six fricking digit salary man. 000 , 000

Holy shiznit. I’m not saying money can buy happiness, but when you can afford to live MORE-THAN-COMFORTABLY, you can usually find happiness a whole lot easier…

So there basically the job is okay, the LOCATION sucks, and the pay is outstanding. I was also told the very first place they send you (as a trial-run for you and them) is Antartica.

What the fuck are people doing in Antartica? Can someone tell me? I thought we humans had better things to do than harass penguins, but whatever… Moving on.

And the third, final, and MOST TEMPTING offer… is the FBI. Basically I could be doing the same thing I do now (Computer networking and troubleshooting), except be getting paid soooo muuuuch better. Not exactly Raytheon pay, but still good. And then I get Government benefits still. Medical, Dental… and a guaranteed pension plan — Because you know our Senators and Congressmen wont work their job if they weren’t getting a pension out of it. Plus… if I don’t like my job — I can quit! It’s basically my Army job, minus the rank, minus the bullshit, and so much more pay. And I already know how to do THAT job. So I don’t have to worry about being incompetent.

So I have to choose between my dream job (game programmer), a money job (raytheon), and the ‘safe’ job (FBI).

What do you guys think?

Tinkie

February 3, 2008

It’s all about what’s going to make you happy. And the job that pays the most sounds like it would be less than ideal. Location can play a major part in your happiness, no matter how much you’re making. If being a game programmer is what is really going to make you happy, go after it. Yeah, it will involve some effort, but it should be worth it in the end, right?

princess ally

FBI! FBI! FBI! But thats just cause computers frustrate me. do what would make you happy. and take your social life into consideration too. your job isn’t your life. what would you do besides work in the shitholes of the world? life is a balance of work and play XX

I agree with the above note. “And the job that pays the most sounds like it would be less than ideal. Location can play a major part in your happiness, no matter how much you’re making.” Im not sure you’d be happy with that longterm. I mean, what if you had a wife and kids then or are trying to be with someone? I know thats what you want so for a career like that it would be a lot harder all

the time to make it work. Though I guess you cant REALLY plan around having a family since its possible you wont have that but yeah…I was just saying since I know its something you really want in life. I like the video game thing since that goes well with you very well. Otherwise, the FBI one would be good. I think the video game one would be more fulfilling. If you have to work you might as

well do what you love if you can right? And I KNOW you could do it. Asking for advice from people to get possibly different angles than you would have thought is nice and all but ultimately you know what you want. Go with your gut.

Xenon

Sometimes companies pay you to get an education in areas somewhat related to your job. Would the FBI maybe help you pay for programming classes? You could always take online courses. As for the contract gig, Antarctica would be cool in a “so you can say you did it” sort of way, but… I don’t know if any of that is worth the risks of going to global hotspots.

You’re still young and have the chance for multiple careers, so consider that. I wouldn’t give up on learning to code. Also… the FBI has to have some pull with the ladies. You can always use the “female body inspector” line from elementary school.

I’d start FBI, go to school for programming, and then move when you’ve gotten your degree and a job offer.

a.little.love

oh, Bruce I don’t even know what to say but thank you for that site. It’s beautiful I know what you mean; it’s a tortured beauty. What brings tears to my eyes about it though, is that is Matt’s relationship with his mother. She has advanced MS, was recently put in a home and often begs him to “off” her. His father is a doctor, his mom sick, so his entire life was always “gotta go” THANK you <3

um, 6 digits sounds MIGHTY tempting. But I think the FBI work would be more rewarding and closer to what you want. ryn: It’s just this random program I have on my computer .. I love it though. Thanks 🙂

catch the sparks

Hah! Antarctica! You realise that most voyages to Antartica leave through Christchurch, right? Man, I don’t know. I second what Xenon said – you don’t have to restrict yourself to one thing. Maybe while you’ve got these opportunities in front of you you can take one of them, and later get into your dream job. With Raytheon – even though money isn’t everything – imagine how well you could set yourself up for life, in terms of buying property and getting good financial stability. You’d have to consider whether that was enough incentive to do something you’d only partially enjoy, and in places that are less than ideal. You’d be a long way from home, and not really in places where the overall awesomeness of the location could make up for it. The FBI, again, that would be very cool. If the money’s still good (if a bit less than Raytheon) and the enjoyment factor is greater, then that’d be a fairly safe choice. I’m not sure. I’d be tempted to take the money job, but know I’d hate it in the long run. Living wouldn’t be fun – location affects your whole day-to-day life.

magicstar

February 4, 2008

I used to be a bio major and switched to creative writing…so obviously I’m all for doing what makes you happy. That being said, I do agree that you have some time. If money may be an issue, consider working the FBI job for a year or so and then going back to school. Or working and taking night classes or something. If money isnt an issue, go for what makes you happy. 🙂

It hurts to give up on a dream. Or even postpone it. Like hell. I’m living in town about to start a teaching job whenever one opens up. Is this what I wanted? Hell no. I’m drowning in failure over here. Do whatever gets you to your dream job fastest, inspire me to not give up on my dolphins lol.

opaque

either the video game job or the FBI…professional penguin hassler just doesnt sound like much fun to me.

“And sometimes I worry that I may not have what it takes to be a programmer.” Change your mind yet? 😉