I dont know about the others but I do feel just like you. I had also posted something like this here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=824178 . And about philosophy I think every true hacker is a philosopher in its true sense. Hacking is in my opinion a type of philosophy of living. Philosophy can be summed up to being investigation of questions and also analysis of the answers. And every hacker does just that. And…
philosophy = physics without the math
Do the world a favor and stick with hacking: build something.
I'll give you a little secret: they let us engineers read whatever books we darn well please. We can also go to coffee houses and drop names of French intellectuals while finger snapping to beat poetry.
We just pretend to be totally square so that nobody notices we can actually be employed while doing this.
Familiar feelings, ha ha. I believe it is human nature to occasionally doubt what you and whether directions you are heading is a right path. I have heard it countless number of times. Though at any given period of time you have to have predominant focus otherwise you will get lost in your choice and will never try either path. The way I solve it, I just act upon the situation, circumstances and intuition coupled wit…
So far I have been quite fortunate to try many technical things, due to a variety of internships (6!) at a seriously varied set of companies. I have tried to pursue what you mentioned, being open to new and interesting paths that present themselves. I'm glad that there are other people out there like me, and that compulsively trying new things is not necessarily a hindrance. Also, on your comment about philosophy: I…
One important thing is we are all so different even though we share same commonalities. So you have to make that chose and the best advice in the world might not suit to you.
I remember having similar feelings when I left University. For me it some of my concerns were about the change, I'd become so used to studying that I found the idea of the working world a little daunting. There are a few things that I've found out:
- No two jobs are the same: technology, opportunities and people change.
- Many more opportunities present themselves in industry, I know many who have very different careers from their degree. The working world has far more jobs for your skills than you might think.
- So far outsourcing software seems just to have caused more software to be written and more innovation. The demand for software has increased.
- You can get into a way of thinking that whatever you do there is always something better: accept the choices you make and see where they lead. It's more rewarding to play to your skills rather than to try and develop completely new skills from scratch (I'm not saying don't try anything new, but by playing to your strengths when you do).
First and foremost, procrastination is death. We were born to take action, even if the action we take is not in the direction of our ideal life, it still enables us to begin a journey and experience everything that the world will present on our path. I believe that life is a puzzle, made up of millions of pieces, or in other words experiences; career, school, relationship, money, vacation, camp, good times, bad times, sickness, regret, deceit, etc. This list could literally go on forever, but what is important to realize is that every single experience that takes place in your world will provide you with a piece to your puzzle of life. Each of these pieces will enable you to get closer to completing your puzzle and having your ideal life being revealed to the world. Now you might be asking yourself, how many people get to the point of actually completing their puzzle? And the answer is extremely few, if any, because human nature is most comfortable, in an uncomfortable way, to be a “fence sitter.” The definition of a “fence sitter” is someone whose complacency and over-analysis of every situation prevents personal growth, and ultimately the puzzle from being completed. So, what I ask you to keep in mind as you begin to make the first magnanimous decision in your life is to listen to what your “gut” is telling you to do. Your intuition will never lead you in a path where you will not grow and when making a decision, if you are unable to look in the mirror and feel comfortable with the person who looks back, then realize that you lying to yourself. The feeling of doubt is called “The Unknown,” because regardless of what path you take, it will be uncharted territory in your world. But like Alan Alda once said, “You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” Trust yourself…we are all born with all of the tools that we need to live a life filled with endless opportunities, but it is your choice if you decide to use all of them! Good luck….
I had this same feeling when I finished my junior year as an Electrical Engineering major. The truth is, I chose that major when I was barely 17 years old, and it was accidental. I chose my major from a drop-down list on a web application. I was going to choose Computer Science, but then I saw "Computer Engineering" and thought it sounded more impressive, so I chose that one. Little did I know how different the coursework was at the time. But I stuck with it until I was 21. Then something hit me. I didn't really enjoy my major at all.
At UT-Austin, the "recommended" degree plan for EE only has 1 elective, no foreign language, and probably 8 classes on circuits. I couldn't help but feel like I had missed out on something, so I decided to take some extra time.
So when I reached my senior year, I decided to drop all of my EE classes the next semester and signed up for all Philosophy classes. Took out a student loan and got a couple student jobs as a web developer, and took my time taking 6 hours a semester for the next 2 years. Ended up moving into a student co-op (an awesome experience), partied, met the girl who would become my wife, got 2 years of work experience, read a lot of philosophy books and novels, took a foreign language, learned to play guitar, and did everything else I had wanted to do.
So that's how I ended up as an EE/Philosophy double major and took 6 years to graduate. Don't regret it at all.
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. - Bertrand Russell
I am not sure if it is a problem because doubt and curiosity leads you to make changes, create and progress
The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. - Bertrand Russell
I am not sure if it is a problem because doubt and curiosity leads you to make changes, create and progress
Those that are so certain of themselves often don't allow the more creative thinkers the luxury of being uncertain. They demand action, right now, and typically their foolish brand of action.
I had this same feeling when I finished my junior year as an Electrical Engineering major. The truth is, I chose that major when I was barely 17 years old, and it was accidental. I chose my major from a drop-down list on a web application. I was going to choose Computer Science, but then I saw "Computer Engineering" and thought it sounded more impressive, so I chose that one. Little did I know how different the cours…
This is exactly what I want to do! just take a time out to try the things I'm interested to try. I have emailed my advisor to see if something like this is possible.