Topic # 2

TOPIC 2

Who? What? Am I? Where did I come from?

When? Where? Why? Am I going?

                                               

Hello everyone! Jonathan here, and on behalf of my mentoring cohorts, welcome to Topic 2.

          This week we’re going to consider our work philosophy, educational and career goals, and hopefully discern if we are naturally inclined to integration and interdisciplinary thinking.  Integration is a term you should become intimately familiar with in all its connotations. 

        
          In doing so, apply a broad focus across contexts, time and space.  Informal as well as formal education, along with any work experience, hobbies and interests, and volunteer opportunities you’ve taken advantage of should be considered.  All these components have shaped your worldview, assumptions, and biases, and have ultimately made you who and what you are today—more importantly perhaps, they have dictated and shaped your goals.

          It’s important to have this self-awareness before you can expect to communicate and articulate to others your knowledge, experience, and aspirations and be a competent, confident, and effective interdisciplinarian.  Are you now or are you going to be a follower or a leader?  Are you conforming to the status-quo or do you have a vision? 

         
           These questions and the considerations above are constantly being critically analyzed and reconsidered as I progress along my path and without a doubt are always subject to revision.  It is so easy to “settle for less” unless I maintain vigilance.  The forces of social-modeling are so pervasive and persuasive it is easy to lose sight of the “prize,” whatever it may be, and have our creativity lobotomized and thereby squelched, whereby everybody, society, and culture, remain less than what they could be.

My personal work philosophy is grounded in an ethic instilled by my grandfathers and father in particular:  hard work pays off, do the best job you can, and never give in or give up.  That can be extended in numerous directions but I’ve essentially carried it with me to this day.  I started working when I was five years old in my father’s store and worked on my grandfather’s farms in the summer.  I’ve worked full-time since the sixth grade with periodic intermissions—another leg of my philosophy is I do what I want, when I want, where I want, if I want.  It’s my life force and if I don’t find value and satisfaction or a sense of contributing to the greater good, I opt out.  I’ve never given up my liberty or compromised my values in favor of security—it also helps that I’m a minimalist in regard to consumption and material—which is a product of the “Depression Era” ethics that were instilled in me and the environment I imbibed.  In general, even when I'm under extreme pressures at work or school, I'm "chillin'".

This sense of independence and “free spirit” modus has served me well and in many ways has directed my career path and goals.  Since satisfaction and fulfillment are the overarching goals, everything always falls into place.  There is some obtuse statistic, I think it’s in the 80% range, of Americans who are dissatisfied with, or downright hate their jobs.  I hate that for them!  Really!

This is what attracted me to the IDS program.  I’ve been able to construct and direct my education, tailoring it to my specific interests.  The program has also allowed me to explore my options.  I didn’t have any particular direction when I started:  my grandfather passed away in 2004 at age 88 and I realized the only unfulfilled promise outstanding was my promise to him and his desire that I’d get my college degree.

 I’ve decided to attend graduate school and get my M.A. in Educational Leadership and I hope to teach history, or one of the social sciences at the Community College level.  In conjunction with my informal education and work experience, I think I will present a “well-rounded” package and I anticipate nothing but success.  Ancillary to this, I plan to pursue the CAP, Certified Addiction Professional certification in conjunction with an M.A. in Transpersonal Studies.  Things have changed…versatility, flexibility, and cross-training are essentials in the world we inhabit today.  It’s time to solve these problems that plague humanity and it’s my belief success can only be achieved with the application of interdisciplinary thinking and approaches.  My areas of Social/Behavioral Science, Letters; in conjunction with the History minor, strategically position me to offer solutions and add value to my portfolio.

          If you’d care to consider Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay "Self Reliance." He may have some insights for you—he did for me.  As you peel away the layers and dig down deep, you will be both surprised and pleased with what you find.

Topics of conversation:

       How would you describe your personal philosophy?

         How has your career path/goals been influenced by your personal philosophy?

Explain how your philosophy and career goals relate to your IDS major?

Remember – these questions are suggestions for conversation topics and you are free to choose your own focus.

Don’t forget to sign all your postings with your first and last names!

--Jonathan Harris, Patricia Anderson, Blythe Whitinger