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Disclaimer;
I am so damn tired right now I can't even think straight, but Ive been wanting to get this out all day and I won't rest until I do, so here we go. Usually Im more artistic when I'm tired, so maybe I'll be able to offer more insight this way. I hope.
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"To those who have chosen a similar path – was it worth it?"
Ironically enough, its kind of why I never did choose a path... Anyone who knows me considers me to be "directionless", "aimless", "lost".... So on, so on... But really, I'm not too much... To a large degree I know what I want... Its just the ways to go about getting it just aren't feasible or they end up being so hard its almost impossible to think through. However, I've sort of compromised. By doing what I do now with dogs, its like a mini career that gives me a leg to stand on until I get to what I /really/ want. Which, now that I've sat down on, breathed and not stressed heavily about, can finally see... Took a whole lot of soul searching and a whole lot more time (or has it really?), but in the end I feel that I'm not making a mistake. Of course, this is subject to change once I start the road.... To be fair I haven't even stepped foot on my more permanent path yet, but.. We'll see. All I know is that if I'd locked down on something way earlier.... I'd have /never/ had the opportunity to have this wonderful profession I do now... And since I'm so in love with it... To me thats enough to make me grateful I didn't listen to a set of nagging mouths telling me to pick a school and a major and damn well do it.
On the flip side, I do envy those who have chosen something and are almost done. People who have are going to be making great money with great benefits way earlier than me and will still be able to further their career and life choices in any way they want. There are definite benefits to settling with something major temporarily to work up the ladder even more. The way I see it, incredibly hard programs will make anything else one seeks to do in the future look like a cake walk... When honestly my major program coming up will probably be horribly hard considering all I do now is work with animals.... I dont want to get too off tangent, so... Despite that a lot of people in my life think I've made tremendous mistakes, do I really regret it? Nope. Do I find it worth it? Yup. With this, I'll have two professions I'll thrive in. A handful of certifications (technology, animal handling, grooming) and a degree. It was a bit more time invested, but so far its been a pretty good journey. Often times I think we forget to enjoy that part of life when we're so focused on results.
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"But I want to see the world. Even if I wake up screaming and have to fend off hallucinations each time I sleep in a new location, isn’t it worth it? To visit amazing places and do amazing things? Does the struggle make the rewards far greater? What does accomplishment mean if it’s easy?"
Venus already hit this one pretty good but /yes/ it is worth it. This is your planet, your earth. You should certainly set out to see it. Even I'm not fully comfortable when I get to places... Its not even a breeze for me. I've traveled to places despite the fact that my ears have been in screaming agony for months afterwards... But Venus is right. Even though through the entire 3 months I was in Europe in 2003 my ears were bleeding and in pain from the flight.... I still only think back and say.. "Damn.. That was awesome!" And I honestly can't say that the positive usually outweighs the negative for most other experiences. I once had an opportunity to go to Australia. See the reefs, scuba dive, all that jazz. And I refused it on account of a long flight... Do I regret that now? You damn well bet I do. Was I comfortable or and in no pain because I didn't go? Yep... But &%*$, if I could go back in time. I'd take the discomfort over missing out on that...You can get another job. You can work with your health issues (like I did my ears and anxiety of flying)... But you can't always get another opportunity to get up and go. I especially like the last part of what you wrote. What does accomplishment mean if its easy? Some of my greatest memories and happiest times have a period of suffering of pain before them. But that does not lessen their values or make me regret it. It only heightens it.
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"Am I wrong? ... Where do you prioritize these issues in your life? What are you willing to struggle for and to what degree? To what degree is it foolish? At the end of the day, where do you hope to be?"
In some ways we are two peas in a pod. I'm not as outward about it, but I'm still taking a path many would disagree is wise. Damnit, I want to damn well be drawing characters for Disney or some little studio some day or on the animation team for the next "Bolt" sequel. And to hell with anyone and their "put money first" philosophy if they think I'm not going to get it. I'll do it even if I die with nothing but a small group of people clinging to my latest cheesy comic. Hahah. I dont think its foolish to take any path or do what is necessary to get to something you'd really like to do. No matter what amount it takes. I simply try to do it while taking those I care about into consideration as well. I like stubbornness! I honestly wish I were mooooore stubborn outwardly so I could have even more momentum! Honestly though Im not going to go so far that it jeopardizes the well-being of someone I care about or myself to such a degree that I can't function... That would completely defeat the point. So In a lot of ways, to answer your first question, I don't think you're wrong.
Sorry for the bible.
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