Annie's

Dear CC,

Been a part-time "official" in the University Graduate Center, I was widely regarded as a wise instructor, whose three-year experience in designing and commanding on career paths for students can help them out of hesitating and struggling, rather than an ordinary girl facing the same problems as my fellow classmates.

I used to believe, that I was doomed to go for work in the job hunting season starting in this September, since during the past several years, I hardly sensed any interest in academic area- essays sound fairly fascinating, however, it is initiating a virtual program acts in reality. Nevertheless, I've already invested near 150 thousand RMB and three years in my current study. Am I stupid to throw away the coming revenue generated, without even one cent residual refund, and spend all the time & money in another program, which NPV (Net Present Value) is totally unknown?

Nobody living on the earth is a holy angel, and I, of course, is not an exception. I have no choice but take the past into account, seriously, to make my parents satisfied. But, just like people always ask, will I myself be satisfied? Clearly, if dream and interests go hand in hand, then all the words I am typing now is meaningless; if the covariance of dream and interests is exactly -1, what I should do, is choose one out of the two, after measuring the cost & benefits. The real world, on the other hand, is not such a simple mathematical model. More frequently, I hear the calls from heart, that I do love researching, being a book worm, doing presentation and debating upon concepts- both abstract and substantial. It seems the opposite two merges, instead of departs. Now I can't help wondering, was my past experience in the University Graduate Center reasonably or over strengthened my belief of taking a job directly after graduation?

We are told to dispose sunk costs without mercy whenever it is identified in economic framework. I'm not rational enough as an economic person, so what should be the right attitude towards the tradeoffs in the correct way?


Best,
Annie