trickg

Diz, I have a ton of interests and "diversions" but none of which really matter to my present situation. For instance:

I have built my own custom snare drum for my drum kit and would one day like to build an entire set of drums.
I am currently working to learn to be a drummer - to what end I'm not sure because I'm not currently playing in a band, but I know that I enjoy it.
I want to continue to learn to play the guitars I inherited from my father. This is SLOW going - stringed instruments seem to be a bit of an enigma to me.
I would like to eventually get back to some structured learning of playing piano
I have been reading and picking at learning from the book "Jazz Tactics" by Chase Sanborn because I have always been pretty poor at soloing.
I love to read a good novel - I hardly have the time for it these days
I want to learn how to do some basic machining and lathing - for what purpose, I'm not sure, but I know that I have an interest in it.
I would like to learn brass instrument repair
My home! I'm a "do it yourselfer" and I have recently completed the bulk of finishing my basement. I also built my own custom deck on the back.
I enjoy teaching music to my kids - my son is playing trumpet and eventually I'd like to get us both in some sort of ensemble where he really has to work hard to keep up.
I like working with our 7 month old Labrador retriever, training him to be a good, smart, obedient family pet
etc.
etc.
etc.

But, with only 24 hours in a day and roughly 17 of them spent awake, I only have so much time so many of these things are just going to be idle thoughts in the back of my mind because of all of the other things that take precedence - namely, my day job and day to day stuff like keeping the kids on top of their homework and spending time with them, day to day home maintenance, and day to day marriage maintenance.

Maybe one day lighting will strike and I'll be granted the gift to do something that I truly enjoy that leaves me time to do many of the other things on my list discoveries and self improvements.

__________________
Patrick Gleason
email me at: trickg1@hotmail.com

"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
"At my signal, unleash hell."
- Maximus Decimus Meridius

Heavens2kadonka

I may hit a lot of what everyone else here has said, so I am sorry.

Dont knock it till you try it.

Something I never, EVER EVER EVEREVEREVER....

EVER...

Want to hear from you, Lara, or ANYONE is that you "dont think" you can do something. Its when the seeds of doubt are sown, that you dont put your all into it, afraid of failure. Then when you fail, you quit. It angers me when people do that. We weren't born able to do EVERYTHING on this earth naturally. Manny Laureano wasnt born with a trumpet mouthpiece in his hand (Believe it or not) . There are things out there that we wont be good at at first. Everything new takes practice. Yes, it is natural to feel down when you dont succeed at first. After my first trumpet lesson with my Lebanon kid, I was down. My first week with my embochure, I felt down. You have to put effort into something until you succeed. Effort is the fundamental building block to EVERYTHING you will do in life. I know it sounds cheesey, but after being a slacker for seventeen years of my life, I find this to be really true. When you put effort into something, you begin to care about it. Your life really, truly is meaningless until you care about something.

Of course, I know you aren't a slacker, Lara. You dont sound like I did about... A year ago (already?). I just want you to always be upbeat about things, never be afraid to try things that you may think you will be bad at. If we were good at everything naturally, what would be the point of waking up every morning?

Van

__________________
Stage 1 California Light
'94 Bach Strad 37
1900 Eb Cornet

LOUD Steve Patrick 10 1/2 C
LOUD LM93

Pedal C

Oops, Sorry! At least I was close!

__________________
"The oboe's A is to make sure we still play it 1 and 2" - Bud Herseth

"One way or another, every patient stops bleeding." - Scrubs

Mr. Semman

Silverstar,

You mentioned that you have strong interests in music, biology and children. Why not have it all. Many of us have been in your place at one time or another. At your age, I wanted to be either in the Navy or a forest ranger. I ended up spending more than 30 years as a police officer, a college professor, and an Army officer. Meanwhile, I have my interest in sailing, archeology, and my new old love, music. Many people change their professions several times during their life. Maintain your major interests, as you mature, as they may serve to land you your dream job, or simply to make the old job more tolerable.

By voicing your concerns, you have demonstrated that you have a good mind, and you are asking the right questions. Remember, you can do anything you want, it all depends on how much effort you want to exert.

Take care,

Gary

__________________
ZeuS Olympus ZTR 1000
ZeuS Guarenius ZTR 900
Ageis F2
Bach 3C
Bach 5C
________________________________________

"Let your words be soft and sweet. You never know when you will have to eat them!"

silverstar

Whew....

That's a lot to take in!

Thank you all for your help. I really am in a rut about the whole college thing...I actually wish I were still a froshie, then I wouldn't have to worry about this. I don't want to leave home and be on my own yet....

Anyway....

....hmm. What would I do for free? I would cook and bake and play trumpet and teach myself how to sew and paint and draw and read books and write a little, I'd try to travel and learn things that I never knew before. I would go to concerts and play in concerts and go to competitions and listen to it all. I would go into politics and try to make a difference in things I believe in....there are so many things that I could do in life....just not enough time, energy. or money to do them.

Lara

__________________
email: Lara.Shema@gmail.com
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*insert witty comment here*

Heavens2kadonka

If you think you're worrying now, wait until next year, when life is basically staring you in the face.

I thought about being a lumberjack for a while, lol.

Van

__________________
Stage 1 California Light
'94 Bach Strad 37
1900 Eb Cornet

LOUD Steve Patrick 10 1/2 C
LOUD LM93

dizforprez

if you think that is bad, i was thinking about being a smoke jumper!

gzent

Lara,

Lot's of good advice here. And some not so good.

I was a very good player in HS and wanted very badly to be a professional musician. I also had/have a very analytical mind that made me realize that the probability of making a decent living as a pro was very, very low.

Being that I did well in math and science and had an interest in electronics it was no surprise when I was a junior in HS that my appitude tests pointed to engineering and computer programming. So I became an electrical engineer. It was a LOT of work, but has been a very rewarding career.

Now, about doing what you love... That would be great if we could all do that, whether its playing the horn, teaching kids, baking or making sand castles. The reality of life is that the vast majority of people cannot do what they love and get paid enough to live on. Not because they don't want to, but because they can't. So, it becomes a trade-off and 2 questions must be asked:

1) What career would you enjoy that pays well enough to live at a level you will be comfortable with?

2) What career matches your abilities and personality?

Both of these questions must be answered. Now, you may think or feel strongly in your heart that you want to be a standup comedian, but if you don't have the right personality for it you won't make it or you will be miserable. Whether one's personality type comes from genetics or environment, it is something that is already formed by the time you leave HS. Those apptitude tests are very accurate at matching your personality with a career field, so if your school doesn't offer them then find a career counselor that does. You may be surprised at the results and may find a career that you never considered before.

Of course, I would be remiss if I also didn't suggest the easiest and most accurate way to find your career...prayer. You see, God already knows the answers to all the questions you have, He knows what career you would enjoy and still make a living, He knows what career matches your talents and personality. He should, after all, He gave them to you!

So, as one should with all the big decisions in life, ask God for guidance, stop worrying and be confident in knowing that the path that He presents for you will be the best one for YOU!!

Good Luck, hope this helps.

Greg

__________________
Harmony and understanding
Sympathy and trust abounding
No more falsehoods or derisions
Golden living dreams of visions
Mystic crystal revalation
And the mind's true liberation

bandman

Wow! That was sooooo sweet! I chose my job because I wanted to work with great young people just like you! The way I figure, a bad day with my students is a good day! A good day with my students is just about as good life gets! The only thing that beats a good day with my students is a day with my family!

Do you still have a copy of that PM I sent you a long time ago? If you feel like what I described in that PM then you should be a band director. Just reading your posts I bet you would be wonderful with kids, and I know as a parent that I would love for you to teach my daughter!

By the way, I thought we had an agreement -- I'll build my new band program into a very big, very strong program and you can take over when you graduate from college! Come on Lara, I'm not getting any younger. I'm counting on you!

__________________

silverstar

Yes, I still do have that PM. I read it every now and then when I need some inspiration.

If I could be a director of a band in which every kid wanted to be there, every kid practiced and worked really hard, every kid was respectful, and every kid was there for the love of music. (Wouldn't that be an awesome band? So many dedicated younger players...wow.) Then, I would be in heaven, making music daily and having to work with people who share my passion.

I don't want to make it so that I live in the band room most of the time. My band directors are in the band room pretty much everyday except Sunday, sometimes until 3 or 4 in the morning. I like to sleep...a lot. I actually get physically sick if I don't get at least 6 or 7 hours of sleep.

I would also not like competitions. Sure, I would love to direct a great band, but why should I put them up against other bands and see who's better? Why should the success or failure of something reflect on the school or the band? Why can't band just be about the love of music?

I have a deep respect for band teachers and directors everywhere. They have to put up with a lot of stress, frustration, and loss of sleep. I especially respect those that are 100% dedicated to directing because they love music. (Like Bandman)

Wow, that got kind of preachy. I always get preachy when I'm trying to get a point across...and then I start to repeat myself a lot.

Lara

__________________
email: Lara.Shema@gmail.com
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*insert witty comment here*