I'm very torn on what to do with my life right now. I have a bachelors degree and I have a couple interviews lined up for some jobs in my field, 9-5, about 35k a year (not exactly thrilled about that... i could pay my bills but not have a lot of extra money). My parents found out about me dancing a while ago when my uncle saw me in the club and told me about it. They bug me every day about finding a "real" 9-5 job. They dont hate me for dancing, they just feel like they must be bad parents if i ever started dancing in the first place (wish they could understand that is false).
Where i live, dancing slows down soooo much after summer. Summer is the only good season. And this was a sucky summer. I live in New England. I love summer in general but pretty much HATE every other part of the year. I hate the cold, dreary, depressing weather. If at least work was good during those months I could keep myself occupied and work my ass off dancing all fall winter and spring and just take the beautiful summers off, but I can't cuz it sucks sooo bad dancing here in those seasons. I'm talking $100 a night bad without regulars vs $300-600 a night without regulars.
So before I got these job interviews, I decided I was going to get in really good shape and by new years. relocate to a warmer place and dance there year round. I have a friend i used to dance with who was really nice and NORMAL (no drugs, prostitution etc) and she is dancing in an awesome warm city and LOVES her club and the standard of living there is REALLY cheap and really nice. This is my dream. I'd love to live in a place where its always beautiful outside, and I can just dance and be young and LIVE MY LIFE.
The way I feel is, I'm not gonna be young forever, but I"m going to have my degree forever. There will always be more "real" job opportunities down the road. I'd like to move there and live my dream for even just 2 years before moving back to the northeast and settling down. The only thing holding me back really is the opinion of my parents... They really are great parents and I love them so much. I'm pretty close to them. They just want me to live a "normal" life, i want to LIVE my life and have these great experiences that I really won't have the opportunity to do again. I feel like the worst thing that can happen is, I end up hating it out there and I move back. whoopdy do.
I was thinking that this winter I could even spend two weeks out there, and spend two weeks back, and alternate if i'm making enough money. That way I could really try it out before I make a huge move across the country. If I like it this winter, I could spend one last summer out here before making the plunge.
What does everyone else think? follow my dream or do what is expected of me? :/



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But ultimately, like I said, it's your life, and you can't just follow their exact little life plan for you if it's not what you want in your heart. I had an hour long conversation with my mom just a couple days ago, and she is much calmer, we are getting along again, and both my parents have said that they just want me to be happy. I think that's really what all parents want.
If you want to move, move. You'll be happier with the weather and city more synced to your needs it seems like. There is nothing stopping you from looking for a straight job while you dance in your new home. When you finally find one that is satisfactory (nothing wrong with waiting it out a bit until you find a GREAT position!), there is nothing stopping you from dancing occaisonally part time as well for some extra money. If you want to just take a few months to just dance and have fun that's totally fine (I'm doing that right now too while I'm waiting to start my last semester of school), but it might be advantageous to take advantage of all the free time you have while doing this to volunteer, intern, or work part time in your field so you don't have to explain a resume gap to future employers, and also so you stay "in the loop" in your professional career.
and good luck!



And also about you and your boyfriend. But it sounds like you have a plan and it's great that you are going to focus on yourself. Summer will come soon enough, you'll have your good resume, and you'll be back to doing what you enjoy and being your best self without other people dragging you down! Good luck with everything!

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