Why I Like Work
02/16/07 11:01 AM Filed in: Indiscriminate
It seems to me that
people complain about their jobs a lot. While I do
enjoy shows like The Office, movies like Office
Space, and Hoops and YoYo e-cards from Hallmark about
how terrible working in an office and, even worse, a
cubicle is, I don't actually mind it myself. In fact,
I rather enjoy it! And maybe you think I'm crazy, but
that's OK... I probably am.
When I'm at work, I actually feel like I'm accomplish something; like I'm actually needed for something, and what I'm doing is important to somebody. Which is a good feeling!
At work, somehow I can forget about all my homework and the large amounts of studying which loom over me before I can fall asleep later in the evening. Instead I occupy my mind with my current project, or I just think about anything or anyone not reminding me of a school or homework. At my job I'm not allowed to do homework if they don't have anything else for me to do, so I just don't!! And I don't think about it either. I don't think about the test I have coming up, or the homework due tomorrow, or anything like that. I just think about my cube and the comics, valentine, and some ghostly white thing made out of Kleenex that I have hanging up in it!
Maybe this post shouldn't be called, "Why I Like Work," and it should really be called, "Why Work Is Better Than School." Work doesn't loom over you all week long, leaving you stuck in it's shadow. When I leave work, I leave all of my work. I don't take it home with me, and I generally don't think about it when I'm sitting at home... doing homework. Except sometimes I do think, "I wish I was at work..."
You make money at work. You pay money for school. End of discussion.
You work to accomplish a common goal with others around you at work. At school, you work to accomplish a good grade for... yourself. Sometimes in vain.
At school, if you miss a day because you're sick or something, you're expected to figure out everything you missed on yourself. You're generally told to "read your book" or "ask friends for notes." Well, Kirkwood isn't exactly the most social college in the world, so you don't necessarily HAVE friends in every class. And your book? Well... never let it be said a textbook actually explained something clearly!! At work, if you miss a day, your project may go on without you, OR it may wait for you! If it goes on without you, you will be informed what you missed, or you will at least be informed where to easily find this information.
At school you're expected to learn. At work you're exactly to know. However, if you don't know, you will be shown. (This is, of course, coming from the perspective of an intern.) If you still don't understand, they help you understand because your project may not be able to go on until you do. If you still don't understand at school, you just get a bad grade. (What happened to the days when teachers actually answered your questions?)
Overall, I think it has to do with a sense of belonging. Of course, not everyone works at a job that they enjoy. For some reason, some people actually choose a profession or job that they can't stand... I still haven't figured that one out. There are tons of jobs available out there, just choose one that interests you! Of course, I guess interests change. Currently, I'm interested in computer engineering, software engineering specifically. And I love my job because that's what I'm doing :)! I'm delegated tasks, I can accomplish them, if I can't I'm shown how; If I'm out sick for a day, it will be waiting for me when I get back. And I'm sure it missed me too.
In short, I like my job! I don't like school! Except Java and C++... I like them.
(Some of this may or may not have been sarcastic... except the part about not liking school. That was true. And I'm not anti-education or anything, I just don't like Kirkwood. I'm sure I'll love Cedarville :)!!)
When I'm at work, I actually feel like I'm accomplish something; like I'm actually needed for something, and what I'm doing is important to somebody. Which is a good feeling!
At work, somehow I can forget about all my homework and the large amounts of studying which loom over me before I can fall asleep later in the evening. Instead I occupy my mind with my current project, or I just think about anything or anyone not reminding me of a school or homework. At my job I'm not allowed to do homework if they don't have anything else for me to do, so I just don't!! And I don't think about it either. I don't think about the test I have coming up, or the homework due tomorrow, or anything like that. I just think about my cube and the comics, valentine, and some ghostly white thing made out of Kleenex that I have hanging up in it!
Maybe this post shouldn't be called, "Why I Like Work," and it should really be called, "Why Work Is Better Than School." Work doesn't loom over you all week long, leaving you stuck in it's shadow. When I leave work, I leave all of my work. I don't take it home with me, and I generally don't think about it when I'm sitting at home... doing homework. Except sometimes I do think, "I wish I was at work..."
You make money at work. You pay money for school. End of discussion.
You work to accomplish a common goal with others around you at work. At school, you work to accomplish a good grade for... yourself. Sometimes in vain.
At school, if you miss a day because you're sick or something, you're expected to figure out everything you missed on yourself. You're generally told to "read your book" or "ask friends for notes." Well, Kirkwood isn't exactly the most social college in the world, so you don't necessarily HAVE friends in every class. And your book? Well... never let it be said a textbook actually explained something clearly!! At work, if you miss a day, your project may go on without you, OR it may wait for you! If it goes on without you, you will be informed what you missed, or you will at least be informed where to easily find this information.
At school you're expected to learn. At work you're exactly to know. However, if you don't know, you will be shown. (This is, of course, coming from the perspective of an intern.) If you still don't understand, they help you understand because your project may not be able to go on until you do. If you still don't understand at school, you just get a bad grade. (What happened to the days when teachers actually answered your questions?)
Overall, I think it has to do with a sense of belonging. Of course, not everyone works at a job that they enjoy. For some reason, some people actually choose a profession or job that they can't stand... I still haven't figured that one out. There are tons of jobs available out there, just choose one that interests you! Of course, I guess interests change. Currently, I'm interested in computer engineering, software engineering specifically. And I love my job because that's what I'm doing :)! I'm delegated tasks, I can accomplish them, if I can't I'm shown how; If I'm out sick for a day, it will be waiting for me when I get back. And I'm sure it missed me too.
In short, I like my job! I don't like school! Except Java and C++... I like them.
(Some of this may or may not have been sarcastic... except the part about not liking school. That was true. And I'm not anti-education or anything, I just don't like Kirkwood. I'm sure I'll love Cedarville :)!!)