I read all the books I had always wanted to read but never had time to do. It was a glorious Spring and Summer of catching up on the literary classics, of enriching my mind, my soul, my whole being.
A lot of your story resonates, including Monmartre, where I traipsed a bit when a student in Paris! I was the odd-one out—a graduate of French literature (what in the world was that?!) in a sea of engineers and doctors. It still is, but changing in the Asian-Indian community that sees STEM as the preferred career choice. But my late odd-ball dad always backed me up:) God bless. And, I changed careers from being a French teacher to this and that and finally a writer. We have one life to live and we must dedicate ourselves to what feels most meaningful. “Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” Kudos on following yours!
I love how you had the courage to take stock and change direction. It’s even better that you found your calling through literature. Thank you for sharing!
Yes, it is true that literature has given me much knowledge, encouragement, direction and enjoyment. It is also true that such decisions are best made when young. I was 35, relatively young.
Thank you for sharing this excellent memoir with us, Perry, which works on so many levels, especially the clarion call for following our hearts and making the authentic commitment to lifelong learning in all of its forms.
Perry, your story so mirrors mine, it's almost uncanny. Good at maths & physics? Do engineering ... to please my father ... he died when I was 31 and then I felt free to make a change ... the stress of 'production' (though not in the war/defence industry) and quality control so the sales boys did not get too much flak from customer complaints ... I quit manufacturing industry in '86 to do a Ph.D and then had an academic career until 2000 when I quit that and went on a wood-working course -- and ended up making hand-weaving looms and then sculptures & geodesic structures -- and writing poetry. It's been a privileged journey in many ways, but not always an easy one. All the best to you, Josh.
Yes, there are many twists and turns in life until we arrive at a place that fits well with our core being. Thank you for sharing your story. I am finding out that there are more engineers out there who always wanted to do something else.
I totally understand this!! I had my engineering degree and was working in consulting where they want you to work 50+ hours but only bill 40. At 28 years old, I figured I should be farther along "climbing the ladder" so I worked crazy hours and... ended up in the ER just like you.
I continued to work for that company as I found a project that I managed and the profitability of it supported underperforming projects.
Anyway, the week that you quit your job was a turning point in my life as well. That project ended and I gave birth to my first baby on February 17, 1993. I was never good in the corporate world. But I thought I was going to be wonderful at a career. Motherhood was my calling. I am not the stereotypical mom with a semi-clean house. I'm a disorganized bunch of projects and my kids thrived.
So here we are. Happier we did what we did 31 years ago. And we both have a cockatiel sitting on our shoulder.
A lot of your story resonates, including Monmartre, where I traipsed a bit when a student in Paris! I was the odd-one out—a graduate of French literature (what in the world was that?!) in a sea of engineers and doctors. It still is, but changing in the Asian-Indian community that sees STEM as the preferred career choice. But my late odd-ball dad always backed me up:) God bless. And, I changed careers from being a French teacher to this and that and finally a writer. We have one life to live and we must dedicate ourselves to what feels most meaningful. “Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point.” Kudos on following yours!
C''est vraiment vrai. Merci beaucoup, Anu.
That's a great story, Perry. You made the decision to follow your heart. On Valentine's Day❣️
Yes, that's right. Although I did not fully realize the symbolism of it till much later on.
I love how you had the courage to take stock and change direction. It’s even better that you found your calling through literature. Thank you for sharing!
Yes, it is true that literature has given me much knowledge, encouragement, direction and enjoyment. It is also true that such decisions are best made when young. I was 35, relatively young.
Thank you for sharing this excellent memoir with us, Perry, which works on so many levels, especially the clarion call for following our hearts and making the authentic commitment to lifelong learning in all of its forms.
Yes; I am glad that you picked up on that, an essential reason for my post. Thank you also for restacking.
Thanks for sharing these experiences. You made the right choice. 🙌
I think so. No regrets on this decision.
Perry, your story so mirrors mine, it's almost uncanny. Good at maths & physics? Do engineering ... to please my father ... he died when I was 31 and then I felt free to make a change ... the stress of 'production' (though not in the war/defence industry) and quality control so the sales boys did not get too much flak from customer complaints ... I quit manufacturing industry in '86 to do a Ph.D and then had an academic career until 2000 when I quit that and went on a wood-working course -- and ended up making hand-weaving looms and then sculptures & geodesic structures -- and writing poetry. It's been a privileged journey in many ways, but not always an easy one. All the best to you, Josh.
Yes, there are many twists and turns in life until we arrive at a place that fits well with our core being. Thank you for sharing your story. I am finding out that there are more engineers out there who always wanted to do something else.
Thank you, @The Rewind, for the restack. I hope that you are finding your center.
I totally understand this!! I had my engineering degree and was working in consulting where they want you to work 50+ hours but only bill 40. At 28 years old, I figured I should be farther along "climbing the ladder" so I worked crazy hours and... ended up in the ER just like you.
I continued to work for that company as I found a project that I managed and the profitability of it supported underperforming projects.
Anyway, the week that you quit your job was a turning point in my life as well. That project ended and I gave birth to my first baby on February 17, 1993. I was never good in the corporate world. But I thought I was going to be wonderful at a career. Motherhood was my calling. I am not the stereotypical mom with a semi-clean house. I'm a disorganized bunch of projects and my kids thrived.
So here we are. Happier we did what we did 31 years ago. And we both have a cockatiel sitting on our shoulder.
Yes, I am also glad that it worked out for you. Interesting that we both had life-changing events the same week.