Huh. Well, unlike most of the people answering this (I think), I'm still a comparative baby (21--finally legal!). But I'm on the verge of making a decision to follow a passion, one that will affect a lot of my coming years--that is, applying to grad programs that will lead me to a Ph.D.--and despite all the problems and headaches and general suckiness that academia can provide, I am desperately hoping for an acceptance and funding, and really dedicated to actually seeing this through. Because I love studying the ancient world, and I really love ancient languages. And--well, I decided not to work this summer (despite opportunities) because I wanted to devote time to learning Akkadian, so I sacrificed a few thousand dollars there, and okay, I'm planning on being a grad student for the next five or ten years, which will not lead to financial solvency.
Is it worth it to land myself in the lower echelons of academia, to work and work and work for very little money and possibly even less respect? The idea of being able to focus so wholeheartedly on Mesopotamian history and language sounds like paradise to me, but I guess I won't know until I get there.
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Date: 7/12/07 11:37 pm (UTC)Is it worth it to land myself in the lower echelons of academia, to work and work and work for very little money and possibly even less respect? The idea of being able to focus so wholeheartedly on Mesopotamian history and language sounds like paradise to me, but I guess I won't know until I get there.