wintertime, and the livin's easy

i've officially been done with school for about 8 months now. during that time i went from unemployed bum in my parents' house to professional gambler in my parents' house to professional gambler in an apartment to someone with a "real job" in an apartment. and while the job search was frustrating at times, i have to say, it's been freakin sweet so far.

everyone always kept telling me, "stay in school." "school is awesome. the real world sucks." "you don't want to graduate, it's all downhill from there."

and you know what?

everyone was wrong. i freakin love the "real world."

i can still live in an apartment with anyone i want.
i can still go out drinking on weekends (or any other day i please).
when i get home from a day of work i actually feel like i've done something productive.
i like my job.
i get paid every other week.
when my day ends at 5, i go home and don't have to think about work/papers/exams.
i'm able to keep a regular schedule, as opposed to random class times with fluctuating gaps in between.
i like all the people i work with, but even if i didn't it's easier to pick and choose who i'm around most of the time.
i still get to learn everyday, and i do. and i have more freedom regarding the topics about which i learn.
i can do what i want, which is how i like it.

i guess some of the people who don't enjoy the real world probably feel stuck in shitty jobs they don't like. to that, my response is simple: get a different job. do something in a field you enjoy. of course, you have to be realistic. most people will not get their dream job right away. maybe it's something you work up to. but it's something to work for. it's unrealistic to expect to get your dream job right out of school, unless your dream job is to be an ass-wiper (i'm still accepting applications). i don't know whether it's level of education, upbringing, or something else, but i think a lot of people feel that for some reason they're entitled to the job they want, and it just doesn't work that way. but if people start down a road they don't like, they're going to end up so far down the road that they can't see where they came from.

i had some extreme frustration last summer when i was applying to jobs. in the end it was really my own fault. i went to school for 1 thing, and i definitely didn't want to pursue it further. i changed my mind. and that's ok. i did it to myself. but i didn't let it cause me to lose sight of what i like, what i want. even though i was unemployed, i turned down 3 jobs before finding a job i love in a company within which i can develop a career. and i fully plan on doing just that.

so to everyone who told me to stay in school, thanks but no thanks. the "real world" kicks ass. unless you're talking about that stupid shit on mtv. mtv sucks ass.