advice to the class of 2010

This video is from one of my favorite blogs, The 99%.

Skip to 2:50 for advice to the class of 2010, which I think is actually good advice to anyone, especially those of us who haven't quite figured out what we want to be when we grow up.

Some main points I pulled out:

• First thing after you graduate, stop and think; don't just jump into a job. First, you need a little money in the bank to be able to do this. Or helpful parents. Or an unexpected cash prize (which actually happened to me!). Second, "stop and think" doesn't mean watch a lot of television on your parents' couch. It means actively brainstorming. Journal about your goals ("spend part of each day outside, feel that what I'm doing is meaningful, exercise daily" are some of mine), skills ("learning languages, writing, relating to people"), and responses to what you read. And you should be reading a lot. You could start with some of the blogs on the sidebar of this page.
• Then, try something. You may not realize that you hate the cutthroat world of advertising until you work for a few months at an agency. When you find out it's not for you, move onto something else.
  
• Find your own voice and listen to it. I.e., take everyone's advice with a grain of salt. Including mine.
  

And here's some advice of my own:

• Don't get used to a salary. It's really exciting when you get your first salary. Your parents are still paying your car insurance and phone bill, you have zero people to provide for, no mortgage, no car payment, few expenses, and you get to blow all your money on booze and concerts. Awesome. The problem is you start looking for bills. You sign up for a gym membership, because you can afford it. You purchase nice furniture for the first time in your life. You donate a little money to your alma mater. Pretty soon it adds up, and suddenly your new standard of living means you can't afford to quit that ad agency job and pursue a career in non-profits. I really can't stress enough how great it feels to be free of debt and to know that I can live frugally. Go into debt for something important, like a graduate degree that will enable you to pursue your goal of becoming a lawyer. But if you decide to spend your money on a brand new flat screen, SUV, or cable TV, you better think long and hard about how those investments are going to help you accomplish your goals and enrich your life.