Live Outside of the Box (If You Want To)

When I was in high school, I had trouble getting up every morning to go. I've always been a night owl. I'd wake up and my heart would be racing, weak from lack of sleep but also feeling nervous about having to go to school being tired once again. But there was no choice; I was supposed to go to school and that was it.

That was my problem right there, I didn't realize there were other choices. People in my life only told me the standard options, the normal paths, the way everybody did things. It was the way you had to do it. Except it wasn't the only way.

Eventually I failed out of high school, not because I didn't study or wasn't smart, but because I missed too many days. I took the GED after that, and I got the highest score in the state. It's true; and I didn't even study. By then I was 19... but what I didn't know is that I could have taken the test when I was 16, and had my High School equivalent diploma, and been done with high school. I also could have been home schooled, and learned at my own pace, on my own hours, at home. I probably would have finished everything in 3 years that way.

With my high SAT scores and my GED, I was able to go to college. This was one of the happiest times in my life. I got to choose my own class times, so I always took later classes. I finally got enough sleep, made good grades, and I was happy. But then it came time to graduate college, years later. Once again I was faced with the harsh reality... that people work jobs from 8 to 5. When I was done, I would have to take one of these jobs. I was afraid, I didn't think I could do it.

Well, it turns out I could do it, but I was miserable. I was tired all the time because I never could go to sleep early enough. My first job I got working for Lockheed Martin, and they contracted me out to the CIA. (Nothing very exciting, I just took care of their computer networks.) Every day I got up at around 6am, drove in rush hour traffic for an hour, and checked into my desk area that I shared. But I thought, this was what you did; what everyone did when they grew up. Fortunately, years later I got into teaching, and learned I could not only work nights, but not have to work 40 hours a week.

For many years of my life, I spent my time inside a box I hated. I didn't really know about the options I had... for high school, taking the GED earlier, or homeschool. Today you can even go to online high school! And when I went to get a job, no one really ever suggested or talked about a non-traditional job. Working from home, or being a contract worker, or even just working a night shift job. Or teaching like I do, where they don't expect you to work 40 hours a week, and there's afternoon and evening classes. There's so many ways to make your own way in the world, there's so many solutions to problems that people don't see.

Now, you probably don't have my problem with being a chronic night owl, but times will come in your life when you are faced with a dilemma, so don't be afraid to think outside of the normal solutions. One thing that would have helped me is if I had talked to more people about things: older, wiser people. People with experience in the area I had troubles with. For you, Devin, you have me to talk to. I'm good at thinking outside of the box now. If you are happy with staying inside the box on certain things in life, there's nothing wrong with that either. Just remember if you feel stuck, there are always other options. Find your way.