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| Starting fresh and living up to my potential - | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 28 2007, 12:29:52 PM (500 Views) | |
| Dev | Aug 28 2007, 12:29:52 PM Post #1 |
"No day but today."
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I have had a lot of change in my life since January. I made the decision to quit messing around with jobs I hated and do what I thought I wanted to do with my life. I enrolled in the floristry course at my local trade school and recently managed to find an apprenticeship in the industry. However, life has a funny way of changing things on you. To put it all in a nutshell, my health situation has worsened enough so I'm unable to handle the physical labour of floristry anymore. That means that I have to give up my apprenticeship. I will be finishing the Certificate II so I can go back to it if my health situation improves and if I want to go back one day, but I can't continue onto the Certificate III at this stage. This is a difficult decision, but I'm actually not that upset about it. Let me give you a bit of background on my life: Ever since I graduated from high school, I've let bad people in my life make me feel like I'm stupid and not worth making something of myself. This got to a point where I decided on a career that doesn't require higher education because I didn't think I could do it otherwise. Besides...I found it rather enjoyable, so why not? But I've since realised that I am smart enough to do a degree program, and I can be successful in a more challenging field. So, I've made a decision: Next year, I will be taking Year 12 again and the VCE at one of the local universities. After that, I will move onto a degree program, most likely in Environmental Science (atmospheric science and meteorology to be more precise). I already have my high school diploma, but my grade point average is so low that I could never get into a degree program with just those scores. I've actually been told this by a university admissions professional. My low scores weren't a matter of me not being smart enough. I just didn't do the work because I was more interested in singing and acting than getting good grades. And when I finally realised the error of my ways, it was too late. I'm a bit disappointed about having to give up this apprenticeship because I wanted to complete the Certificate III, but I'm excited about going back to school. I know I can do this, and I'm not going to let anyone tell me otherwise anymore. I've always been absolutely fascinated by weather and the environment, and I'm really excited about the prospect of continuing to learn about it in school and at work. I'm glad I'm finally here. This hasn't been an issue of me being indecisive about what I want to do with my life. It's been about me finally realising that I'm smart and I'm worth it. That alone is a good thing, because I can't remember the last time I thought that about myself. I can only literally go up from here now.  I can't wait!
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value." 
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| Jaffas | Aug 28 2007, 12:45:20 PM Post #2 |
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True Blue Mate
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That's such wonderful news! I know I feel weird when I change my mind for the millionth time, but I bet you feel 100% better about making this decision!! I wish I could hand over my Diploma in Natural Resource Management to you, because you sound like it'd be more useful to you than it is to me. lol Mind you, atmospheric science and meteorology is a lot more in-depth than I ever went. It sounds like a great and worthwhile challenge though! Congratulations on the decision!! :)) |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria  See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| incognito | Aug 28 2007, 08:52:44 PM Post #3 |
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Chatterbox
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Good on ya Dev! :goodonya: Believing in yourself is so important and it sounds like that is where you are at now. It will make all the difference in your life and I wish you all the best with your plans!! :hugs: |
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| imafrank | Aug 29 2007, 03:30:48 AM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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Devon, that is so wonderful! I think you are a perfect fit for what your going after! :hugs: :hugs: I know for me I change my mind more often than I change the oil in my car! lol I too have gone through the wringer of "you can't" from those who were suppose to support me. Not to mention when I did decide to do the "you can't" and realize that I should have done something else then the "I told you so" comes along and if I change my mind again, I am just a complete idiot in those eyes!! I dropped out of college for those reasons. I was pulling down fairly good grades except for the all important law class, the professor was liberal and I had conservative views but I didn't realize it....something should have sounded an alarm when faced with this.....case somewhere in USA where this guy kept having his house broken into and robbed. The police weren't really doing anything about it, so the guy set up a shot gun "booby trap" (not the right thing but the guy was frustrated) and sure enough the idiot goes to break in and gets shot. Instead of the robber going to prison the owner of the house ended up there instead. In my 19 year old mind and when asked what I thought I said "Well, I think the wrong guy is in prison." Which abolutely tweaked my professor....hmm last I checked when you asked what I thought that meant I could speak my mind....oh that is right...not unless it matches with the professors views!! LOL....I do understand now why the guy got prison time but I don't agree the robber should have gotten off. I said all that to say this.....I dropped out after I lost all enthusiasm for school. I called up said "important person" in excitement to tell them I achieved an A on my first college paper. (I had to write an "opinion" about a real life crime after reading the book...didn't get through all the book but still managed to do well...thing was like 1k pages :eek: ) Anyways, instead of "I'm proud of you" or "We're proud of you" I get "You didn't read the whole book did you?" after hearing "Why didn't you get an A+" which is when my attitude hit the skids and I said "screw this"....I know wrong attitude should have said "screw you, I'm proud and I'm going to prove you wrong". Now, here I am 37 no degree, but I do have lots of different work experience under my belt. Some think this is a "bad thing" and that taking the "risk" to move across the world was stupid and I just say "  ". I know the right thing for me is out there, but I just have to find it. I have done the "corporate" office thing and I don't like it...I want to wear jeans, nice shirt, and nice shoes to work....I don't like pantyhoses, dresses/skirts (only for special occasions), and high heels. I see this as a good thing because I know what I don't want even though others see it as a minus.I said all of this Devon....I'm proud of you for figuring out what you want and going for it. If along the way you realize that you want to change your major...go for it...without guilt of changing your mind...don't forget ....it's a woman's perogitive!! :mrgreen: :)) :)) :)) :fruit: :fruit: :the-wave: :the-wave: :partydots: |
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| TerritorianTori | Aug 29 2007, 03:58:53 AM Post #5 |
It couldn't happen here
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Congratulations Dev on your journey of self-discovery. You have come a long way, and I'm really happy for you!! :hugs: :hugs: Jennifer - your post reminds me SO much of my experience in culinary school. I too had a professor that was, for lack of a better word, a complete and utter bitch. It was her way or the highway, and if you had a different style or outlook...you were screwed. She told me that "maybe I didn't have what it takes", and at that time in my life, being 19 and a thousand miles from home, I believed her. I left and never worked in the profession again. DON'T let anyone impress upon you that work experience < having a degree! I just talked to a really good friend of mine, a business owner, who says that she had to once again fire a clueless college graduate. She says she and other business owners she knows would give their right arms for people who actually have real life experience over someone with just a piece of paper and nothing more. I mean no offense to people with that piece of paper, I've got one myself :mrgreen:, but I think society has impressed upon us that having a degree is ALL that matters. SO not true! At my last job, I worked with people who did not have formal quallies but years of experience, and I was humbled before them. :bow: (better stop before this turns into a serious rant, LOL) |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| tazydevil5 | Aug 29 2007, 08:58:28 AM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hey Dev....you're just full of surprises arent you?!!! LOL.... Good onya for taking the time to try things out. Look at me, I'm 43 yrs old, and really a glorified cleaner, because my son is more important than the job at the moment. I have done SO MANY different things...attained a position of Bank Manager at 24, changed over to do legal stuff... Yes its hard to have confidence sometimes. People rave about my abilities, and I have proven I can do anything that I put my mind to, but still there is a nagging doubt that I'm not doing things well enough. Pretty shitty way to be really, but I am very proud of you for how far you have come in the time I have known you. Who cares how many things you try....you WILL find something that you love eventually, but that may still not be what you want to do for the rest of your life. I LOVED the banking stuff, but would never consider doing it again... With love Robyn |
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| i<3sydney | Aug 29 2007, 10:33:00 AM Post #7 |
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True Blue Mate
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Dev.. wow, that's very brave of you and really respectable that you have such keen insight about who you are, what you want, and what is best for you. and that you are taking control and not letting anyone get in your way! i think if you want something bad enough and work hard enough, it can happen, or at least result in self improvement and and positivity. and i wish you the best on your chosen path. good luck! :D |
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| Susan | Aug 29 2007, 08:04:40 PM Post #8 |
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Unregistered
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Two thumbs up!!! Follow your dreams Dev, no one can take those away from you. Whatever it is, it's what you want to do. And yes, you are totally allowed to change your mind. It would be worse to do something just to make others happy or what you think might make others happy. Those who care about you will want YOU to be happy no matter what. I can see your more positive attitude lately, your happiness in life is shining through. All the best to you. p.s. hope the health concerns take a turn for the better. |
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| Angie | Aug 30 2007, 02:29:23 PM Post #9 |
True Blue Mate
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0o0o0o Nooooo - I am still holdin you to the whole doing the flowers at my wedding vow renewal if/when that happens!! :p Other than that I thinks its great! It's a wonderfully brave thing and I'm proud of you for following your dreams! :hugs: :goodonya: |
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| Dev | Aug 30 2007, 06:28:37 PM Post #10 |
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"No day but today."
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I can still do your flowers! See? A fully-wired Victorian Posy. I'll still be doing wedding stuff free-lance and hopefully working part-time in a florist, but I'll be going to school for the rest of the time.
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| JenbeTas | Sep 1 2007, 12:04:40 AM Post #11 |
Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea
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You go girl!!!! You MUST do what you want and what makes you happy. In the famous words of Stuart Smalley...... "You're good enough, you're smart enough and gosh darnit, people like you! RE: High school scores affecting entrance into Uni--I was under the understanding that if you are a "mature aged student" that the high school scores didn't matter? Please forgive me if I'm wrong on this and do feel free to elaborate......... |
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| TerritorianTori | Sep 1 2007, 12:15:04 AM Post #12 |
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It couldn't happen here
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Kirk is in the same boat, his high school scores are "utter crap" (his words), and the university here gave him the option as a mature-aged student of either taking an entrance exam or doing a 1-year tertiary enabling course. He chose the latter. |
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South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| Matt | Sep 1 2007, 12:27:12 AM Post #13 |
Moderator and driving cat
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Good for you, Dev. I'm going through the same thing a bit. I've had a job that I've despised for nearly a year, and have returned to it twice after taking periods of leave to go home. While I was gone I was actually given a promotion, but it turns out that that was in name only....there appears to be no certain benefit from it. Certainly no extra monetary incentives. I actually tried to quit last week, but my team leader talked me out of it. Since then it has gotten more difficult. To make matters worse, this person, whom I respected, had left for another company and promised to give me a good reference if I ever needed one. She threatened to withdraw it if I quit for any reason other than moving on to a higher position. Correct me if I'm wrong but the word "blackmail" comes to mind. Anyway, to keep this relevant to the topic....my job history is littered with positions like this, usually lasting a year before I went on to something else equally infuriating. It all boiled to a head when I saw a career counsellor who basically told me I was a whining sook and took my boss' side. I've had enough of listening to other people who think they know what's best for me.... the only person who really knows that is me. |
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| Volcane08 | Sep 1 2007, 12:44:52 AM Post #14 |
True Blue Mate
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High school scores don't matter if you have an Associate's Degree, right? My HS grades stunk(!), but I was on the Dean's List in Community College. I hope to earn my BA someday...in something.... :headscratch: Well, goodonya, Dev, anyway! There's nothing wrong with being what some call "a Renaissance Soul". Been there many times myself. I went from wanting to be a writer to a rock star to an interpreter to an artist to a roadie to a gourmet chef to a marine biologist to a welder to a small business owner to a.... Yeh, you get the picture! :mrgreen: |
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| Jaffas | Sep 1 2007, 02:17:48 AM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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I agree - I've wanted to be one of just about everything! I remember when I was a kid, asking my Mum, why do I have to choose a career? Why can't I just do everything?
Perhaps there will be more occasions in the future where I'll say "no wait, *this* is it, I know I just gotta be a ..." <- insert another career here.. :rofl: Guess we gotta do what's right for now, and let the future worry about itself. |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Dev | Sep 1 2007, 07:48:47 AM Post #16 |
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"No day but today."
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Exactly! That's exactly what I've realised, hence my career change.  People keep telling me that I should stick with floristry because I have a "natural talent" for it. Have a talent for something is one thing, but actually wanting to do it for the rest of your life is another. I want to do science, so I'm going to! No more stuffing myself around.By the way, that career counselor is completely wrong. You haven't been doing what you've wanted to do for a long, long time. I know that you've made the best of the positions you've had, but they haven't worked out. It happens. Definitely don't listen to her. She obviously has issues of her own if she feels the need to be like that to someone. Follow your dreams, mate. And don't let anyone (even your loved ones) that you can't do it for whatever reason. |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| Dev | Sep 1 2007, 07:51:53 AM Post #17 |
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"No day but today."
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By the way, I received a response from Monash University about what I can do to get into the BEnvSc. They pointed me toward the Certificate IV in Science at Swinburne, and it looks great! From what I can see, it's basically structured the same way as the VCE would be, and it's tailored to your specific degree choice. I think I'm going to do that instead of the VCE. It'll give me the skills (and scores!) I need to get into the degree course, and I'll be with people my own age.
I'm so excited! |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| JenbeTas | Sep 1 2007, 08:24:08 PM Post #18 |
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Hippie Wannabe sailing the deep blue sea
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That is fantastic Dev!!! I'm really happy for you! |
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| imafranktoo | Sep 1 2007, 11:13:17 PM Post #19 |
Little Miss Key Breaker
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Devon that is wonderful news!! :eggplant: :redpepper: BTW I just :lurve: the flower arrangement pic you posted! I wish you were here....I would be buying flowers and bringing them to you to arrange for me weekly!! Ohhh, just had an idea...a side gig to bring in cash....how many ladies get flowers and just stash them in a vase? or guys who buy flowers for their gal/spouse/signigicant other but don't want to spend $ on a pre-done arrangement or one in a vase. Loads probably.....what about a service where you post an ad and offer your floral arranging skills to the unskilled? Like this...."Do you love flowers? Is it a need or desire to have fresh ones monthly, weekly, daily? Are you floral design challenged and the flowers stay exactly how you bought them, in a clump? Would you like the flowers to look like an "arrangement"? Then contact me. I will turn your flowers in to a work of art!" Why not earn a bit of money towards your college goal while using the floral gift you have? :mrgreen: Just a thought... Jennifer |
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| Dev | Sep 1 2007, 11:19:44 PM Post #20 |
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"No day but today."
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That's a great idea! I might just give that one a go. Thanks, Jen!
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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