It was some days back when i saw my professor in molecular biology an intelligent man with several degrees and phds, driving what looked like a cheap car and from his clothes what seemed to be an average lifestyle money wise. It got me thinking he spent nothing less than 30 years in school or even more all for what to be average? Struggle to pay his children's tuition? Ask for loans? Because thats the fate some parents are in nowadays. So it got me thinking are you okay being the average guy?Going to school get a college degree, work 9-5 just so you can make the mortgage? It got me thinking that i font wanna live like that studying all these years to be average? be the average joe and be ok. I cant. What about you guys are you ok being your everyday average joe or do you aspire for greatness.
[Discussion] Are You With Being An Average Joe
- Thread starter Luther
- Start date
How do you know that he's asking for loans for his kids? Just making mortgage? (as per your OP) A lot of PhD holders who are professors in universities tend to have ample salaries.
Did you ask him? Did he tell you? If not, don't judge. Just because he drives a car like that or he chooses to dress the way he does doesn't necessarily mean he's not well-off. Maybe he chooses not to flaunt his status, for all we know.
Some people have such a passion for what they do they don't have time to waste on material things.
Umari Senju
Active member
greatness doesn't always bring happiness. I wouldn't tell you not to strive to be great. But at the same time don't look down on the average joe. Without them you wouldn't be able to recognize or appreciate greatness.
"Don't be afraid to be weak. Don't be too proud to be strong"
"Don't be afraid to be weak. Don't be too proud to be strong"
I mean lets be honest, he isnt living what exactly you will call the dream, yet again not many of us are. I just see all that hard work leading to not enough recognition. It got me questioning my whole university aspirations.
Umari Senju
Active member
well like Souji said, unless you know for a fact that he is struggling to make ends meet, you can't assume he is not content with being "the average joe"
Don't get me wrong, it is fine if you aspire to have and be something more. More power to you and I hope you succeed and rise to greatness if this is what you truly desire. But not everyone feels this way. Take Millie (my mom's best friend) for example
My mom's best friend is a millionaire( And I mean that literally. She is loaded) and she dresses in jeans and simple button collard shirt. She live in a 1 bedroom loft with her husband and works as a teachers aid. She drives a Subaru when she could be driving a Lexus. She is humble and content with "simple" things because that's what makes her happy.
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Yami Silver
Member
He has multiple PhDs and is a professor of molecular biology at a university. That takes some serious dedication. He's obviously passionate about what he studies, living his dream... otherwise, why would he put himself through 30+ years of schooling? No one in the right mind would do that unless they really, REALLY wanted to be in that field.
Not enough recognition? Do you know the effort and time it takes to do what he did? He's going to be noticed... if not by the general public, his contemporaries in the field certainly have.
The culture of academia is different. I've had professors who are as you described... truly passionate about what they study and are more grounded than the typical high-class individual who has less of a formal education than him.
Don't doubt your aspirations. Just make sure those aspirations are what you really want
I don't know about you but i don't want to spend 10 -30 years studying or going for an aspiration, and ending up with 50000 dollars per year for salary if am lucky. While i also think of paying back the loan i was borrowed for school, thats the path this generation is going. How many college students are in debt? Is the degree really worth it? They say the shoe can always fit no matter who foot is on but this shit got me doubting my whole lifes ambition.
I doubt he can ever afford a Bentley though or take his kids all around the world in 5 star hotels. Thats the shit right there. DREAM BOY!He has multiple PhDs and is a professor of molecular biology at a university. That takes some serious dedication. He's obviously passionate about what he studies, living his dream... otherwise, why would he put himself through 30+ years of schooling? No one in the right mind would do that unless they really, REALLY wanted to be in that field.
Not enough recognition? Do you know the effort and time it takes to do what he did? He's going to be noticed... if not by the general public, his contemporaries in the field certainly have.
The culture of academia is different. I've had professors who are as you described... truly passionate about what they study and are more grounded than the typical high-class individual who has less of a formal education than him.
Don't doubt your aspirations. Just make sure those aspirations are what you really want
Yami Silver
Member
To be honest, I want a really high paying job (investment banking or something along the lines). I want to be able to buy all the things I could never afford. I want to buy my mum things she could never afford. However, I'm also going into it because it perks my interest. Accounting makes you a ton of money but it seems so boring. I may go into business later in life for the fun of it, not (primarily) for the money (though the money is a nice bonus).
Umari Senju
Active member
If that is the case then you really need to step back and ask yourself, "Is this something I really want to do?" It sounds like you are pursuing this field for money and recognition and not because you are truly passionate about it otherwise the money wouldn't matter.
And that's fine.
if it's greatness you require make sure you are great at something you love doing. True great people don't go looking for greatness. It finds them because they love and are passionate about what they do which draws people to them.
Obviously he became the average joe because he did what everyone else did, you need to be exceptional at whatever it is you commit to otherwise you will be like everyone else. 90% of all people(of those who can get education) are in a competition to see who can get the best job and most comfortable lifestyle but if you're doing what everyone else is doing you'll just turn into another sheep so be a leader, not a follower.
Everyone has their own definition of success and/or greatness.
Maybe that professor is living his dream, which isn't compatible with yours.
If you define the greatness that you want to achieve and do it, does it really matter if others see you as average?
Maybe that professor is living his dream, which isn't compatible with yours.
If you define the greatness that you want to achieve and do it, does it really matter if others see you as average?
Blackwatch
Active member
Success is what you make of it. The only real goal I have in life is to be truly happy, and the rest is gravy.
Material things don't mean everything to a lot of people. Personally, I'm not very materialistic. I've got my skateboard, a roof over my head, good Internet, Playstation, and I'm happy. Lamborghini's and 10 room houses do not make me happy, being myself and having fun does. Maybe you consider that average, but I consider it happiness.
Material things don't mean everything to a lot of people. Personally, I'm not very materialistic. I've got my skateboard, a roof over my head, good Internet, Playstation, and I'm happy. Lamborghini's and 10 room houses do not make me happy, being myself and having fun does. Maybe you consider that average, but I consider it happiness.
Jazzy Stardust
Banned
Awards
I wasn't okay with it, but not everyone is the same I realized when I got into the real world(out of moms house). A lot of people don't have that strong ambition to accomplish great things, or the ability and people have different definitions of what's great. Which is fine. But life is a trip, when you accomplish goals more pop up that you want to achieve, it's like a video game.
But it's awesome being able to do what you want, pull up in a Maserati and chicks are checking you out, dressing in nice things, vacations for the hell of it. Not to say it makes the person but it makes me feel like I can do anything, because so many people settle for less when the world is yours. I know so me people in my life who had the talent to do anything, but the ambition isn't there.
But different strokes for different folks.
But it's awesome being able to do what you want, pull up in a Maserati and chicks are checking you out, dressing in nice things, vacations for the hell of it. Not to say it makes the person but it makes me feel like I can do anything, because so many people settle for less when the world is yours. I know so me people in my life who had the talent to do anything, but the ambition isn't there.
But different strokes for different folks.
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