A Noble Profession

When I envisioned my future as a child, I always thought that I couldn't settle for a job, or a career, but a profession. For this purpose, my definition of a profession is a little more specific than that of common parlance. I mean a paid position that defines a person's life, their skills, values and passions; it doesn't just pay the bills. Such occupations include priest, soldier, professional athlete and rock star. When you meet someone with a profession, you are instantly clued into the very nature of a person, in a way you can never discern the depths of a banker, or human resources staffer. But even more importantly, many of these professions have an essential nobility- a goal of making the world a better place, in whatever way one describes 'better'.

I have led an advantaged life and given all the proverbial giants' whose shoulders I've stood upon, I want to make a mark upon the world. Classmates and peers of mine had similar dreams, but not many of us seem to have realized them yet. In fact, I feel the need to pick on a representative of my compatriots that I am disappointed in, Chelsea Clinton. In an article in Talk Magazine in 2001 (much discussed online, but I can't find a copy of the original), when she was starting graduate work at Oxford, Chelsea wrote about her feelings towards September 11, being an American abroad, and the swelling sentiment of her, my, generation - wanting to improve the world. But as a recent New York Times article points out, she worked for McKinsey and now works for a hedge fund; her charity work focuses upon ballet. None of these represent the noble intentions Chelsea professed to have. And friends of mine from college have done the same thing, arguing that they can make money to give away to charities. But no amount of money can make up for how much we/they buy into the status quo every day with jobs supporting big business. (Digressions could go here regarding the nuanced matters of business and when it is good or bad, or how much the rest of us by purchasing gas or groceries from major chains aren't doing any better.....) So if I state a desire to do more, I can't settle for an interesting, lucrative job, even if it is temporary. (Although all evidence points to this being the best way to get ahead in the do-good industries too- you can quickly earn enough money to take a pay-cut while gaining the experience and connections necessary to succeed in more lofty work. The Clinton Foundation, with work more ambitious than Chelsea's, poaches most employees from the consulting sector according to the Atlantic.) A few caveats: if one doesn't hold or state these exalted beliefs, one has a complete right to a high-paying, exciting, career - especially if one has had to face barriers greater than anything I've ever encountered. It's just hypocrites that annoy me.

So now I have to pick my profession. After presenting these ridiculously high standards, I have a tough job ahead of me. But, to be honest, I'm tired of typing tonight, so we'll just have to wait for another day.