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If you have a talent, you can do with it whatever you want. There is no such thing as squandering your talent. People always told me: "You're so good at maths,
by yarcob 6y ago
If you have a talent, you can do with it whatever you want. There is no such thing as squandering your talent.
People always told me: "You're so good at maths, you have to go into research. Your talent would be wasted as a middle school teacher." But then it turned out that I hated research. I work as a programmer now, a profession that I do enjoy, but it's so mundane. I wonder where I would have ended up if people hadn't discouraged me from becoming a teacher. I'm slightly jealous of people who get to work with curious kids every day.
- kstenerud 6y agoAnd that's totally fine. You're the only one who can decide how to build upon your talents (even though EVERYONE else will have an opinion on that). If you hate research, then research isn't your thing. My point is that you shouldn't sell yourself short by denying your talents entirely, as is being expressed in the post. Your talents are your edge, and an opportunity to make a difference (such as teaching in your case - talented teachers are the great amplifiers. They help the next generation discover and build upon their passions and talents, enriching us all). Talents in the right environments can foster passions. But once again, people telling you what you should and should not do is a huge problem.
- sokoloff 6y agoI wanted to be a school teacher. My parents, both teachers, basically barred me from pursuing that as my first career. (“If you want to teach, go do something else first and teach later.”) Though it reads negatively, it was among their top 5 contributions to my life I think. Now that I have kids in school and see what teachers have to do, it might be top 3.