The Disillusioned Student

[nirinia]

I haven't been posting much lately. Last week was a whirlwind of friends, drinks, coffees and conversations. This week I have been breathing, thinking, walking the dog, jogging occasionally, and coming to terms with my decision.

I am not happy studying literature. It is not challenging enough, it is not interesting enough, and it will not change the world. A few years ago a teacher caught me after a debate (immigration, I was hung over and observed from a choice corner) and demanded I use my intelligence for something. If I did not open my mouth, do something, say something, I would never change the world, she said. I was taken aback, she apologised the next day for being completely out of line, and I thought no more of it. Another fun story about the peculiar relationships a teacher's pet has with her teachers. But she had a point. I want to matter, to leave a mark. That will not happen if I go into hiding in a literature department somewhere.

Did I post about considering medicine and law? I've decided on law. It will be a challenge, and I am looking forward to it. Doing something demanding seems like a dream. School has never been very difficult, and while I did have good teachers, being offered more assignments of the same kind does not cure boredom (I will not get into the failings of the Norwegian schools). This final year of English literature I plan to take on as little credit as possible, teach myself rudimentary Russian, work, read, exercise and travel.

Comments

[booksforfood.livejournal.com]

I too was disillusioned with literature (I studied English lit) and briefly considered law. And then I worked in a law office for 3 months. It was wretched and I didn't feel like the lawyers were making a difference so much as grossly overcharging for everything they did. I had to log how much time they spent on an email and a tiny 3 line e-mail would cost the client 12 pounds. So, before you do it, I recommend you work in a law office or do some part-time volunteering as well.

I ended up deciding on library science because I can help students or help the public in a public library. I can also go into information management and help organize corporations records and whatnot, so it's quite a versatile degree. I also liked that for library school it doesn't matter what you do your undergrad in whatsoever, you can study what you like without worrying about it.

You're like me--so many things you COULD do, just figuring out what to do!

[nirinia.livejournal.com]

I don't think charging for an e-mail would bother me much. Considering what uneducated lecturers charge for a one hour lecture (5000 pounds is a common starting point, a former politican (no education) that left office due to a scandal now charges 10000 for a lecture about it), a few minutes of a high-profile lawyer's time suddenly seems more valuable. And they do, from what I've gathered, charge according to clients' means.

That is a good idea, actually. I don't think I'll be able to work in an office, but I've been quizzing the lawyer's I've met about their work and it seems interesting.

Library science sounds like a good option, though I don't think it's for me. Law is a very versatile degree as well. You do not necessarily end up practicing law, it can lead to any number of careers. The courtroom is only one option – albeit an appealing one. Or I could enter the diplomatic corps. And it gives me the weight needed to have a voice in the public sphere.

I don't think I managed to convey properly that this is the culmination of a lot of thinking. I had narrowed my options down to either law or medicine, and I think I've finally concluded that law is it. So I'm sure there are a myriad of other interesting careers out there, I think this is something I'd like to try. (Though it would be fun to see my family's faces if I announced I was going to do something like, say, go into theatre.)