I grew up fairly poor.
Don’t get out the violins. See I didn’t know I was poor. Which was either my naivety or the fact that the difference between classes wasn’t quite as obvious as it is now.
I was made aware of this in 1987 when a boy called Christian told the playground I lived in a shag on a rock. I was pretty sure that was not a good place to live by the reaction of the classmates.
So it came as no surprise that Uni was not an option. No one told me about HECS. NO one sat me down at school and said, you know what sunshine, you get pretty good marks, you can go to Uni and pay it back for the rest of your freaking working life, but it is an option.
So I did what a lot of kids did after finishing year 12 – Shit themselves. I came back, fresh from Schoolies in Byron Bay (I highly recommend it) realised I was dead broke, with no job prospects and applied to all the junior ads in the paper. I scored a job at an Accounting practice on and the rest is history.
The kids these days are no longer in the dark. Both parents and educators are outlining options from an early age. My 9yo changes her ideal job every week. The difference being, if that’s what she wants, we will do all we can to help her on her way.
But what if you give your kids everything and every opportunity and they still don’t become “someone”
There is such emphasis on careers and schools – public v private. Then private – the best one to be at. There was no such thing as moving to the best area to get zoned for the “best” public school. In fact my brother went private, I went public. We turned out the same. Jobless and clueless come Year 12’s end.
So this post is nothing more than an observation of my limited experience in life and plans. We can make them but at the end of the day obstacles, bad luck, good luck and outside forces take a lot of the planning out of our hands.
Don’t get out the violins. See I didn’t know I was poor. Which was either my naivety or the fact that the difference between classes wasn’t quite as obvious as it is now.
I was made aware of this in 1987 when a boy called Christian told the playground I lived in a shag on a rock. I was pretty sure that was not a good place to live by the reaction of the classmates.
So it came as no surprise that Uni was not an option. No one told me about HECS. NO one sat me down at school and said, you know what sunshine, you get pretty good marks, you can go to Uni and pay it back for the rest of your freaking working life, but it is an option.
So I did what a lot of kids did after finishing year 12 – Shit themselves. I came back, fresh from Schoolies in Byron Bay (I highly recommend it) realised I was dead broke, with no job prospects and applied to all the junior ads in the paper. I scored a job at an Accounting practice on and the rest is history.
The kids these days are no longer in the dark. Both parents and educators are outlining options from an early age. My 9yo changes her ideal job every week. The difference being, if that’s what she wants, we will do all we can to help her on her way.
But what if you give your kids everything and every opportunity and they still don’t become “someone”
There is such emphasis on careers and schools – public v private. Then private – the best one to be at. There was no such thing as moving to the best area to get zoned for the “best” public school. In fact my brother went private, I went public. We turned out the same. Jobless and clueless come Year 12’s end.
So this post is nothing more than an observation of my limited experience in life and plans. We can make them but at the end of the day obstacles, bad luck, good luck and outside forces take a lot of the planning out of our hands.
6 comments:
Hear hear - I wanted to be a vet but was crap at every pre-requisite for vet-dom. Maths, physics, chemistry. So then...
I decided I wanted to be an actor. Did classes. Realised that everyone was prettier, more ball-sy & talented than me. Failed actors become...
Lawyers. So here I am, this is what I do and it pays for my shoe habit. But I really want to be....
A yoga teacher. So good for G!
Nicely said.
As parents, I've always felt that we can equip our children as best we can, but there is so much about this life which it totally beyond all of our control. It's scary. It's exciting. It's... what it is...
Hey mate. Love reading your posts (even if it is a blunt reminder of how much energy I devoted as a kid to being part of the arsehole laughing majority!)
I distinctly remember being told by my parents that I could do whatever I wanted...still had no idea(or drive, or money). How I would approach that whole area with kids is beyond me.
Like your thoughts.
I don't remember you being nasty Adam. I think you may have even been my hoedown partner at camp once. I'm loving your photography. Looks like you've found your talents and calling anyway. ;)
Thanks. Don't really know how the photography thing came up for me...odd
Former hoedown partner. Classic. Good memory.
So true. You can do everything for your children, try and equip them to be the best version of themself they can be, but in the end they will make their own choices in life. All I can do is hope my children will learn from whatever "wrong" choices they make and have faith in them that they will be ok!
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