Wow. One whole week after I said I’d get this site up, I’m actually almost done. So much for setting deadlines for myself and meeting them! At least it’s up!
So what’s this site all about? Well, I’m a 27 year old who recently decided to go back to school. After a lot of introspection during the Christmas holidays (2008), I decided to pursue the Public Relations Diploma at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
While my decision was applauded by my friends and coworkers, my mother made it clear that she completely disapproved. Actually, her disapproval was something like this:
- Typical Asian mother response
Hilarious, right? Well… Not really. That comic basically sums up my mother’s view of me going back to school: It was a waste of money. Not only that, it was also a waste of time. Why would I want to quit a full time, stable job, and go back to school? She could only remember when I first attended Kwantlen back in 2000 to 2004 to obtain a Computer Informations System diploma, but I ended up with a certificate instead.
I can’t honestly blame my mother for not having much faith in me. After all, my track record with school wasn’t the best – low grades in high school (so bad that I nearly failed Math 12), lack of motivation to finish a diploma… How could I possibly have the focus and motivation to finish a two year diploma program in an area that she didn’t even know I was interested in? Long story short, she ended our tumultuous conversation with “I love you, but I don’t support you.”
So now, I’m trying to find a way to raise a grand total of $9500 for two years of tuition (approx $4750 per year). I plan on working part time, taking on side web projects and selling myorigami flowers on Etsy, and doing a crapton of volunteering to further my PR goals… But volunteering doesn’t put a roof over my head (and before you ask – moving back home with mom isn’t really an option), gas in my car, or food on the table.
On top of that, I was laid off from my job at the beginning of May. So I’m even more hooped.
Despite everything, I’m extremely excited about starting classes in September. I’ve been extremely active on Twitter and have made numerous connections all over the map with a lot of PR professionals in the lower mainland. Don’t get me wrong – the financial part of this whole endeavour scares the crap out of me, but it’s okay because I’m pursuing something I truly want to do. Right?
5 Comments
Love that comic u have.
It’s too bad ur mom doesn’t support you but what’s important is that she still loves you. Parents sometimes don’t understand their kids sometimes. Maybe later on she’ll understand.
You’re doing what you want to do and that’s important. =)
I’m watching James Blunt sing a song about triangles on Sesame Street to the tune of his song “Beautiful.”
This is a blog. This is your blog. You’re a girl. You’re in college. You’re starving.
I like this blog. I think I will keep reading it. I think I will subscribe to your rss feed.
Thank you. It is cloudy today.
First off I had no idea you were 27. Though you were younger, you look so young.
I believe everything happens for a reason. Getting laid off from your job will open up time for you to concentrate on your Paper Garden which has some very cool stuff.
Best of luck to you.
That’s the typical Asian mother response when you are still relatively young. They’ll tell you that you should be working to do better in school. You should study harder. You should learn to make your own money. After they see that you are making a living, they’ll well up with pride when you decide to pick up the bill for dim sum. I know my mom did.
As I noted during our conversation the other day, my parents didn’t exactly approve of my freelance writing ambitions at first either. They thought it was a waste of time and it was little more than a hobby that I could pursue “until I found a real job.” My dad would always say things to me that inevitably ended with “when you get a real job again.”
Fast forward a couple of years later and I’m making twice as much as a freelancer as I did at my last full-time job. These days, my parents recognize that I am not simply pursuing a hobby; I am running my own business. This is something that took them a long time to understand, because it would have been unfathomable for them to achieve the same when they were my age.
The approval will come with time. You just have to prove to them (again and again) that you have something worth approving. Even if they never say it, they will always love you.
Awww… Thanks Michael
I’m glad things are working out well for you with your freelance writing. Seems like ages ago when I first made your site!