What a load of bullcrap.
Attended my gran’s birthday dinner this evening, and managed to piss off almost everyone at the gathering. Moral of the story? Never take a sick, gloomy girl to what is supposed to be a happy gathering. She’d just ruin everything.
Why gloomy?
1) I am still sick.
I relapsed yesterday again. Plus, I am sick and tired of explaining my condition to people. So, I kept to myself as much as possible … apart from talking to my favourite cousin David, that is. In fact, I am also starting to get mildly depressed so … the tendency to occasionally withdraw from people.
2) I am not looking my best in a sea of ‘perfect’ relatives.
My face looks bad right now because of a severe acne breakout. And my relatives in general are PERFECTIONISTS when it comes to skin.
Every single one of them have flawless complexions - even my male cousins. And a pockmark amongst them is typically frowned upon and nagged at. Guess which one got the nagging today?
For the record, I snapped at anyone and everyone who remarked about my oh-so bad complexion. The fact that I was already moody in the first place didn’t help.
Sidenote: If you’ve seen my latest pictures on Facebook and think that what you see contradicts what is stated here … ever heard of Photoshop? ;) (Note: Not full-out Photoshop, of course. I just blank out the more prominent spots off my face.)
3) The conversations going on at the table made me REALLY angsty.
Bollocks to the ‘money makes the world go round’ attitude. The older cousins were basically brainwashing my younger cousin (who is about to start university next year) with the “MONEY IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!?!!!!!” mentality, which made me want to shrivel up like a prune and break out into a full-fledged allergy reaction to the sheer amount of stupid remarks I had to endure.
Basically, they were egging on my younger cousin to choose a career that will make him rich in the future rather than one that he is interested in. Not to mention applying the economics principle of “make sure you gain more than you invest” in every single decision he makes in university.
Fuck the money.
What is education? It is a learning experience. It’s for self actualization. You learn a shitload of things - from the base curriculum, to other skills such as social skills, presentation skills, confidence, project management skills and yadda yadda. My experience in SMU was an enriching one, so much to an extent that I am extending my course to a four-year one because I liked it. (Even though I had the option to complete it within three years.)
Why? Because you only go to university once. I choose to stay on, take my time and make the most out of my experience there.
Why rush the journey? Do you stand to gain anything? No. Except maybe bad grades (because you just want to get everything over and done with) and … few or no memorable experiences.
I took a course which I enjoy. And I chose to take a double major which is an advancement of my base degree because I like it. Every single moment - I relish thoroughly.
Needless to say, I strongly disagreed with my older cousin when he scoffed at double degrees or double majors, stating that you don’t gain anything from it - about how it’s pointless, and how you’re basically wasting more money on a second degree/major because employees won’t especially hire you because of your double degree/major, neither will you get a higher starting salary than the rest.
Money, money, money. Everything is all about money, isn’t it?
Like I said, fuck the money. You only live once.
So what if you’re rich 30 years down the road? Looking back, will you feel like you’ve lived a fulfilling life? Will you be in a career which you intrinsically enjoy? (i.e. You’re not there only for the money while thinking that the job is a load of bullcrap.) Will you feel like you’ve maximized your potential? Your capabilities?
Think about it.
If you think I am living in my own dreamworld and that in reality, people think that way and only care about earning oodles and oodles of money. Then, you lead a pretty sad life. Really.
I respect people who dare to chase their dreams and pursue their interests. Those who are simply in it for the money with zero interest, I see as the scum of society.
So there.
It’s all about striking a balance. If you land a job which motivates you, and continually gives you renewed interest … which also happens to pay well, then very good for you.
Oh, and not to mention my ultimate argument - money cannot buy health. You may have enough money to see all the doctors in the world but they can’t help you all the time.
Health. I’ve lost mine, and somehow lost all hope of ever getting it back as well considering the events of the past five months. At least I can look back and safely proclaim that I’ve done more or less everything I wanted - from singing/performing onstage (even though it ensued in an ultimate failure, but what the heck), pursuing a course which I have a strong interest in, forged many friendships through projects while weathering thick and thin and learning from the whole experience, and the list goes on and on.
(Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this entry do not apply to people from disadvantaged families or homes.)
C O M M E N T S (4)
I actually didn’t finish college, but I’ve noticed lately that people just care so much about money, and stuff, and gadgets. I’d rather have a job that I enjoyed than one that just made me money!
Hell, my brother had a job where he was getting 100k (USD) a year, and he just quit and moved back in with his mom. Now to me that’s crazy… but he just hated his job!
Happiness is key, money is just a bonus!
It just amazes me how people can still think like that (about the money), and not only that, but try and influence someone else too. I just hate it when people tell others what to do with their lives especially when it’s something as important as a future career.
If I were you I’d take your relative aside and say to him you can be numb, for the rest of your life, living a dog’s life and slaving for that precious dollar, or you can realize who you really are and do what you really want to do.
People are just too afraid of hard work. They want that dream job but are too scared of the risks and pitfalls that come with it. But the best things in life are always hard to get, hard to use, and require effort — or they wouldn’t be the best things in life. It’s just sad that some people don’t understand this.
I’ve been sick for 3.5 WEEKS… 4 coming up. That’s a whole month. =S
You Photoshop your Facebook pictures? That’s a lot of work. What about pictures of you that other people put up, hmmm? My solution: no pictures on Facebook. ;) Or rather, few. Actually, I just don’t like pictures of myself in general.
You only go to university once huh… I think I need to start a conversation with my parents about this money issue. I worry about it far too often when I should be enjoying my studies. Right now the only thing I particularly enjoy is that I’m leaving in January to try something new (study abroad). I am sometimes so miserable in school.. is that really how I should be going about it? Really, truly? I don’t know. And is the school the problem, or is the problem me? (hint: latter.)
I guess I just don’t know how to make the most of my experience. I wish I enjoyed it more and knew what I was going to do with it.
One more thing, HOW do they have such flawless complexions? Acne sufferers want to know!
Brenda’s reply:
Haha, not full-out Photoshop. I just blank out the more prominent spots off my face. Otherwise, everything else you see is untouched. :P As for my relatives - this is going to sound evil but maybe they nag their faces dry, that’s why their faces are spotless. -.- Hahahaha.
As for money and enjoying your studies, most people tend to put unnecessary weightage on money. I’d go for striking a balance. (: