the random thoughts thread

Started by true, Jun 15, 2007, 02:43 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

vespachick

Tom:

[size=24]Get your degree.[/color][/size]

Love,
A
My jacket's gonna be cut slim and checked

Ruckus

QuoteIdea time. I'm finishing up my cover letter for Gibson Guitars. I'm going to send it to them tomorrow. The position is customer service, and through all of my different jobs (especially the guitar repair shop and Borders) I think I've got the kind of experience and communication skills that would really be to my benefit in this sort of field. If they decide they like me, I would almost certainly be able to start right away. Which would mean I could move to Nashville in January, at the earliest.

Stuff like this makes a need for a list or something, right?

Pros:
  • Getting to Nashville.
  • Getting started on an actual career. The resumé is looking for people who are looking to stay with Gibson, and I'd be more than happy to spend a good while in Nashville. It's kind of the heart of my America to me.
  • A very solid job. And one that connects me immediately in strong ways to the instrument industry. Even if it's not building, I'm still affiliated with Gibson and that will be a plus no matter how you slice it.
  • If they are willing to hire me, and looking for career-minded individuals, then it doesn't make much difference that I don't finish my degree before I get there, because I'll be on a career track without the degree.
  • One of my good friends is living in a campus apartment with an open room at Belmont. They don't pay gas, electric or water, and if they're up for letting me crash there for the spring semester, it'll be a really good five months to be able to save up money while not spending on housing. I'd be more than happy to chip in and keep the place spiffy and be minimal impact in exchange for the free housing.
  • Working for a corporation will definitely involve medical insurance, which would be the only thing I'd have to worry about with leaving Borders, besides having steady income.
So the Cons:

  • Not finishing out my degree.
  • ....
  • I thought there would be more than this.
  • Oh yeah. I don't think my parents would be too pleased about me not finishing the whole degree thing, but this won't happen without that job from Gibson, and that job will be well-paying enough that I won't have to ask them to support me when I move, so they won't have that to breathe on me heavy about financial business.
  • Probably defaults me on the promised new MacBook Pro as a graduation gift, but I'm a big kid and can save up for that kind of stuff on my own now.
That's about all I can think of right there.

Any of you older, wiser ones have any good input here? Would I be an idiot to walk away from college with so little left? Or would I be embracing the change as it needs to happen, getting the hell out of Dodge and getting things rolling at an appropriate time? I can see this being either, depending on different peoples' experience, but I can't imagine it would bite me in the ass too badly later on down the road. After long-term experience with a company like that, I don't know that a degree will speak any louder than a solid recommendation from the previous employer.

There is no right or wrong advice to give here.  What strikes me as important is that you seem to be a self motivated person who will succeed no matter what.  That to me somewhat assuages any concerns or knee jerk reactions those looking out for you may have when told that you might not complete your degree.  I also have no idea how close you are to completing it but if you are semester away, get the damn degree.

I do not know what your degree is for or whether it is even related to what you are looking to pursue right now.  If it is not, it lends towards being more forgiving of the idea of moving forward to Nashville.  If you can concurrently complete the degree following your move...GREAT!

I have collected 4 degrees now, 3 of which I do not use, 2 of which I wish I never even got (paid for) and have recently embarked on a second career.  I will probably have a 3rd and 4th career before all is said and done.  So I would say if this is what you are truly feeling, you gotta do it.  If I was your parents I'd say get a degree.  If I was you (and you seem to really want to go), I'd go.  I can think of the top of my head a number of examples of friends who didn't complete school and are happy as can be.  Similarly, I don't know of anyone, except me, who says I wish I didn't spend all that money and an extra year getting another degree.  

Also...listen to Tracy.  Between 18-23, I spent all my free time working to save money to travel to as many places as I could.  That was real travel.  Now I just take "vacations."

Definitely listen to Natural Science!!!!!!!

Can You Put Your Soft Helmet On My Head

pawpaw

QuoteIdea time. I'm finishing up my cover letter for Gibson Guitars. I'm going to send it to them tomorrow. The position is customer service, and through all of my different jobs (especially the guitar repair shop and Borders) I think I've got the kind of experience and communication skills that would really be to my benefit in this sort of field. If they decide they like me, I would almost certainly be able to start right away. Which would mean I could move to Nashville in January, at the earliest.

Stuff like this makes a need for a list or something, right?

Pros:
  • Getting to Nashville.
  • Getting started on an actual career. The resumé is looking for people who are looking to stay with Gibson, and I'd be more than happy to spend a good while in Nashville. It's kind of the heart of my America to me.
  • A very solid job. And one that connects me immediately in strong ways to the instrument industry. Even if it's not building, I'm still affiliated with Gibson and that will be a plus no matter how you slice it.
  • If they are willing to hire me, and looking for career-minded individuals, then it doesn't make much difference that I don't finish my degree before I get there, because I'll be on a career track without the degree.
  • One of my good friends is living in a campus apartment with an open room at Belmont. They don't pay gas, electric or water, and if they're up for letting me crash there for the spring semester, it'll be a really good five months to be able to save up money while not spending on housing. I'd be more than happy to chip in and keep the place spiffy and be minimal impact in exchange for the free housing.
  • Working for a corporation will definitely involve medical insurance, which would be the only thing I'd have to worry about with leaving Borders, besides having steady income.
So the Cons:

  • Not finishing out my degree.
  • ....
  • I thought there would be more than this.
  • Oh yeah. I don't think my parents would be too pleased about me not finishing the whole degree thing, but this won't happen without that job from Gibson, and that job will be well-paying enough that I won't have to ask them to support me when I move, so they won't have that to breathe on me heavy about financial business.
  • Probably defaults me on the promised new MacBook Pro as a graduation gift, but I'm a big kid and can save up for that kind of stuff on my own now.
That's about all I can think of right there.

Any of you older, wiser ones have any good input here? Would I be an idiot to walk away from college with so little left? Or would I be embracing the change as it needs to happen, getting the hell out of Dodge and getting things rolling at an appropriate time? I can see this being either, depending on different peoples' experience, but I can't imagine it would bite me in the ass too badly later on down the road. After long-term experience with a company like that, I don't know that a degree will speak any louder than a solid recommendation from the previous employer.

If I were you, I'd finish your degree. Don't put all your faith in any one job, even if you get a job at your dream company, because there are a LOT of things that can alter your career path. What if you meet a woman in another part of the world that you want to move for? What if Gibson lays you off because of tough financial times? Your degree will allow for more opportunity and flexibility...and a degree can only help your chances of moving ahead at Gibson, or anywhere else you take a job. Besides, after about 6 months of working full time, you'll be wishin' you were back in college.

My advice to you is to stay in school, finish your degree, and have as much sex as possible. Not until you're gone will you realize how good you had it ;)

"I'm able to sing because I'm able to fly, son. You heard me right..."

tomEisenbraun

Alright, so it looks like the degree thing is a bonus. I'm two semesters away from finishing my bachelor's in English. I don't really care to finish this thing in Athens. Unfortunately, I'm not too sure of any good public schools in Nashville. I definitely can't afford to try and pay my way through another 18 hours at Belmont.

Thing is, I'm ready to start making money so that I can start saving up for getting my ass to Galloup Guitars in Grand Rapids, MI where I'll begin my building education. Course there is 6 months and $17k, so I can't do it without some good work and penny-pinchin'.

That's where the Gibson thing comes in. Working as a Customer Support dude will be a solid corporate full-time job with benefits that will not only get me on my feet, but put me in daily contact with customers who are dissatisfied with their instruments. What better way to start figuring out which areas you need to improve on, eh? I wouldn't plan on being with them much longer than a couple years max, but knowing that they are looking for people to hang on to, that helps me see a little job security in what I'm looking at, and that looks nice, too. And if it sucks, I'll have only gained experience for a resumé and that never hurts.

Tough thing is living in a dead end town and looking forward to getting back to Nashville. I know I've wound up idealizing it by now, but when you've got somewhere to look forward, it's damn hard to want to stay where you are.

Anyone know much about colleges around Nashville (excluding Belmont, Lipscomb and Vandy, which are all too expensive)?
The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

ycartrob

MTSU is just down the road in the Boro (Murfreesboro). They got about 30K students there and some say a blossoming music scene.

Ruckus

Dude...as Penny said, you've likely made up your mind.  If building Geetars is what you're all about...an English degree is useless.  I said it and I believe it.  Move forward and do what you gotta do.  It's like my boy in college that was a glass blowing major.  I mean c'mon...some fields are not meant to be taught in a traditional educational setting.

clearly you know where you want to get your training is not in a 4 year college.  DO IT :)
Can You Put Your Soft Helmet On My Head

tomEisenbraun

QuoteDude...as Penny said, you've likely made up your mind.  If building Geetars is what you're all about...an English degree is useless.  I said it and I believe it.  Move forward and do what you gotta do.  It's like my boy in college that was a glass blowing major.  I mean c'mon...some fields are not meant to be taught in a traditional educational setting.

clearly you know where you want to get your training is not in a 4 year college.  DO IT :)

Hmmmm. Seeing everyone's response here, though, it would really pay off to at least get the degree, as it can only help out in the long run. If the job with Gibson pulls through for some odd reason, I'll most definitely take it and just transfer stuff over to MTSU and do some night courses til I finish up there.

I think that'd probably be the way to go.

I don't really feel like wasting more time here in Athens, though...
The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

tomEisenbraun

Also. I think the quality I'm looking for most in a girl is the ability look really good in those American Apparel thigh high socks.

That has nothing to do with moving.

This is the random thoughts thread.

The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

ycartrob

I met a guy who got an entrepreneur degree at a university. He said that most of the great entrepreneurs in his text book did not go to college. I like that irony.


purvis9876

Why, when I let some facial hair grow for a few days, does it look like I'm seconds away from from molesting someone.  :-/ *shave shave shave*

You're envied, Tom; greatly!
Evey: Are you, like, a crazy person?
V: I am quite sure they will say so.

ALady

QuoteMTSU is just down the road in the Boro (Murfreesboro). They got about 30K students there and some say a blossoming music scene.

Dude, YES.  This might be the answer.  I've been hearing really good things about Murfreesboro and MTSU lately.
if it falls apart or makes us millionaires

tomEisenbraun

QuoteWhy, when I let some facial hair grow for a few days, does it look like I'm seconds away from from molesting someone.  :-/ *shave shave shave*

You're envied, Tom; greatly!

Dude, no! It's the post-shave blues and it looks like shit on everybody. I look like a three-week-old burnout in a cardboard box when I'm growing my beard back. I promise it'll get better! Stick with it! The force is with you!
The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

tomEisenbraun

Quote
QuoteMTSU is just down the road in the Boro (Murfreesboro). They got about 30K students there and some say a blossoming music scene.

Dude, YES.  This might be the answer.  I've been hearing really good things about Murfreesboro and MTSU lately.

Hmmm.
The river is moving. The blackbird must be flying.

mjkoehler

Quote
QuoteWhy, when I let some facial hair grow for a few days, does it look like I'm seconds away from from molesting someone.  :-/ *shave shave shave*

You're envied, Tom; greatly!

Dude, no! It's the post-shave blues and it looks like shit on everybody. I look like a three-week-old burnout in a cardboard box when I'm growing my beard back. I promise it'll get better! Stick with it! The force is with you!
Let it GROW man. I did. It takes a while to quite looking like the hobo that BM's under the highway overpass.

Grateful Chabo

Quote
QuoteMTSU is just down the road in the Boro (Murfreesboro). They got about 30K students there and some say a blossoming music scene.

Dude, YES.  This might be the answer.  I've been hearing really good things about Murfreesboro and MTSU lately.


I agree....that place is getting high and mighty
"Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul."

red

i just stumbled on a few posts by db back when his spacebar was non-existent.  

;D ;D ;D

getinthevan

I walked out of the grocery store this morning and could hear the wind blowing past the building and see the snow blowing across the parking lot.  This kid was walking into the store with his Mother and said, "At least it's not windy, Mom".  In my head my immediate response was, "Not windy?  You're a fucking liar."  I can't help but wonder how the mother would have reacted had I actually said it.
The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place

TEO

"You are only as young as the last time you changed your mind" T. Leary

dragonboy

^^ me too ^^

Quotei just stumbled on a few posts by db back when his spacebar was non-existent.  

;D ;D ;D
Yeah I tried my best during that challenging time, didn't I?  ;)
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

getinthevan

Quote^^ me too ^^

Quotei just stumbled on a few posts by db back when his spacebar was non-existent.  

;D ;D ;D
Yeah I tried my best during that challenging time, didn't I?  ;)

Why didn't you have a spacebar?
The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place