A couple of decades earlier, one would choose an occupation then hold on to it for life. However, those simple days are gone and nowadays it is essential to develop multiple talents and aptitudes.
This is a disastrous thing to many people. Some of my childhood friends are currently employed in the garment industry, but this is all they can do: they have no other aptitudes and do not have high school diplomas. As you know, all those factories are relocating to countries where labour is much cheaper, so the future is obviously not very bright for them. In spite of this, they don’t understand why I am still in University, but this is a completely different subject that should be kept for another blog. I hope that they will be able to adapt themselves and develop other abilities so they can move on to a different career.
However, I do not cringe as much as union leaders and socialists when I think about this situation. I think it might be because after witnessing all those “rationalizations”, I am somewhat mentally prepared for it and I am diversifying my occupational interests and experiences to avoid being stuck in a bad position.
My mother and I were talking about my day job this weekend and the fact that I had no fringe benefits and could be fired without much advance notice. She was disgusted by this situation, but I do not feel “exploited” at all, even if, for many, this is the epitome of capitalist savagery. I have much more respect for my current employer than a previous one who gave me “permanent status”, but who would do everything to get rid of those who had it: transferring departments to subcontractors, making odd work schedules to make sure that personnel turnover would remain high, and so on. Since I do not feel “permanent” where I am right now, I save up so I will not be in trouble if things go sour there. I take the opportunity to learn many things that will be of help for my next venture.
Right now, I am managing my studies, my real-life career and my companionship website, all at the same time. Although such a situation is demanding and requires a lot of self-discipline, I find it stimulating because it allows me to express myself in a lot of different ways and it gives me the opportunity to learn new things and live many more experiences that someone that is confined to the same position for a long time. Engaging in only one activity would feel like limiting myself and then I would start feeling depressed. If there is a failure in one of my endeavours for some reason, I will have something else to think about and to work on. I will not feel like I am falling down in the abyss.
This shift from having one to several areas of interest is one thing that makes today’s world harsh and challenging, but very interesting and stimulating at the same time. At least for me personally.
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