Ania and I really, really like hiking, among other outdoor activities. Whenever we can we escape to the mountains to clear our minds, take a deep breath of fresh air, and use our "outside voices." One February weekend we met at the Holyoke Range to take on the seven sisters, a seven-peaked hike along the Holyoke Ridge.
It was a clear day, and the views, snow, and trails were deeply satisfying. We marched along, happily settling into the calf-burning feel of the day. The Connecticut River below us mirrored the valley perfectly, and the week-old snow still looked like freshly fallen diamonds. We couldn't have asked for more...until we got to the top of Mount Holyoke.
We were admiring the Oxbow when a fellow hiker wheezed up the trail behind us. We politely said hello, exchanging pleasantries about the day.
"Do you girls go to college around here?" the old man asked.
"No, we graduated last year," I told him.
"Are you employed?" he asked us skeptically.
Now, I don't know about you, dear reader, but employment is not the subject of choice for most twenty-somthings these days. Finding a job is hard enough without the added pressure of "doing what you love" while also "making a contribution to society" and "making enough money to feed yourself." The last thing we wanted on our day off was to be questioned about our employment. We both are employed, by the way, which we told the wheezened hiker.
"Are you employed in the field you majored in?" he further inquired. Woah, how exactly did we get here? Last I checked we were on top of a mountain, not a career services office.
"No," we hesitantly replied.
"Ah, well, of course not, you don't have your masters. You've really got to get your masters if you're going to do anything with your life," he said.
Well, we are not getting our masters, but we are doing something with our lives. After all, not all who wander are lost on their career paths and doomed to a lifetime of uncertainty.
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| This is Ania not getting her masters |
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