DEAR Cindy,
I'm considering quitting my job before the year ends. Why? Because I realized I do not really enjoy my work because it’s more on the technical side. Another thing is I do minimal and not so important tasks, because I’m a fresh graduate. I know I’m not that good yet, skills-wise.
I have in mind to go back to school to study I.T. or a similar course that focuses more on web designing. I have always loved web designing. Back then, I maintained my own blog site, doing my own layout and stuff. I did this only through self-study.
I feel I would be happier doing that kind of work. Please help me decide. Is this the right thing to do? Is it the right course to take?
Paul John
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Dear Paul John,
I believe you should go for web designing as you said this is your passion. The quickest and easiest way to go about this, as you said, is to resign and go back to school. Remember though, that you had success with self-study before. This is one option you can optimize to your advantage if you are able to manage things well.
It must really be tough being in a basketball varsity team and being the ball collector, water boy and bench warmer—all at the same time—just because you are the youngest and the most inexperienced in the team. My heart goes out to you as you experience a similar situation in your work. But don’t worry, almost all the famous basketball athletes went through the same thing. Work experiences, whether you perceive them as pleasant or otherwise, always have invaluable benefits to your being a future superstar in your career.
Don’t detest your job for not having any formal training program. This kind of situation is not at all unusual in the corporate world, where constant and sudden changes in organizations and strategies is the rule versus consistency and predictability. Successful people at work are those who can train themselves at their own initiative and learn quickly. You mentioned also, that since you are a fresh graduate, you do “minimal” work in the office (and therefore have less accountability as of now). But if you can manage your time better, keeping your job while getting back to your self-study in web design, this is good not only for your budget but also for your character.
It can be good for your career, too. As you hone your creative hemisphere and gain expertise in web designing, you can stay updated and adequately exposed to the technical side, as your skills become unique; better than anyone who knows just the creative side only. You will be able to build your own market niche, solve higher level problems, serve specialized requirements, consequently market yourself better, and ultimately earn better. May this coming year ahead bring you peace and wisdom on your career move.
God bless,
Cindy
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Healthy reading
Dear Dr. Dana,
Some of the gifts I received this Christmas were books. I thought giving books nowadays is not the thing to do anymore because of online reading. With just a click you can enjoy and read any books or novels you want.
But there are some, especially parents, who are concerned with their child’s eyesight. Reading online subjects the eye to hours of strain from the glare of computer screens. How do we handle this?
Melody
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Dear Melody,
Reading online is fine but a book has versatile uses! It can be a substitute pillow or a fly swatter. It can be sunshield for your face. If you walk with a book on your head, your posture will improve. Book dealers and thrift shops have found interesting stuff inside books—a strip of bacon, a tooth, a ring or a handkerchief.
Kidding aside, yes, it’s true that reading online subjects the eye to hours of strain from the glare of computer screens. It would be beneficial to reduce the brightness and contrast. Enlarging the text font and standardizing the format also helps make reading easier. Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen and focus your eyes on something far away for at least 20 seconds. Position the screen below eye-level so that your eyes blink often and won’t dry out.
One thing for sure, reading widens the mind, warms the heart and feeds the imagination. Books are companions, mentors and guides. They are doorways to other worlds, other lives and memories. May the coming year be filled with love and blessings for you and your loved ones.
Very truly yours,
Dr. Dana R. Sesante