So what's new?

[write_naked]

I'm so sick of being asked that question.  Because the answer is both "nothing really," and "absolutely everything

Comments

[mischief03]

Yes, that last paragraph really well sums up how I felt my first summer out of school and how I feel now in a lot of ways. Very well put.

[muffinear]

Is 21% the actual number??

[write_naked]

It was as of about three weeks ago. I heard it on npr. Probably higher now though, come to think of it.

[semi_eunoia]

...it's only increased my ability to ask questions, to be unsatisfied with the status quo, to be aware of my potential and my intelligence and my creativity, and to think that those things are worth pursuing.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that courses and divisions and degrees aside, that, above all, is the point of a Hampshire education. Crap. =P

[hyouki]

congratulations. you deserve good things&it's so good to hear that they are coming for you!
answers are too cliche, like in movies. they signal an ending&life doesn't just end like movies do.

super-excited for your next post! x-D

[blue_banshee]

I'm happy that the meeting community is able to help you out with the money thing*. I wish that kind of thing happened more, and for more long term employment, too. I feel like connections like that are what separates a real community from being just a church, or, just the place you go on sunday to worship. it's a question of sustainability. I feel like, back in the day, when quakers did a lot more hands on kind of work, that was vital to quaker meetings- getting people jobs and such. but now we're more isolated, more dependent on education to prepare us for "the real world," and other not necessarily quaker connections to find gainful employment.

*and more so if you don't have to pay taxes on what you earn.

[write_naked]

The employment is actually paid for by insurance- I'm working as a personal care assistant, which is kind of like a home health aid. What's lucky for us is that Massachusetts is great about giving people PCAs when they need them, and MassHealth tends to pay for them entirely. So it's not tax free, but it's still awesome.

I'm with you on the community thing. I've been trying to think of ways to get more Quakers to take seriously the idea of service in the context of a Meeting community. I worry sometimes that Meeting is becoming more of a place for individual reflection and worship, rather than a group working together. On the other hand I feel like I've been hearing a lot of similar thoughts from other young adult Friends that I know- so maybe we're not the only ones concerned about it?

Just out of interest, do I know you in real life somewhere? You seem familiar and you know a couple of my friends from Philadelphia young friends...

[blue_banshee]

my name is christopher, and I am going to be a second year student at the school from which you just graduated. I friended you after I saw you on bobthequaker's journal, because I'm pretty sure there's only one person you could be, and yes, we know each other.