Life After Ripon: Katlyn Lee ’12

Chapter 9: Can More Be Too Much?

[Editor’s Note: Katlyn Lee ’12 and Jeremy Johnson ’12 are writing monthly entries for the Ripon College Newsletter chronicling their own post-graduation experiences. We hope you enjoy their perspectives on Life After Ripon!]

March 1, 2013
Dear Journal,

Maybe you’ve seen the commercials on TV recently that center around a well-dressed man sitting with a bunch of younger kids asking them their opinions on different things. For example, in one commercial he asks the children if they prefer more of things or less of things and a girl replies back in the typical rambling, yet enthusiastic, manner that children often use to explain that people definitely want more of things because if you have less of something you really like you’re going to want more. (I hope that just made sense as I seem to have channeled my inner rambler.) The logic is all there behind the statement; I believe most people would agree with the young girl that if you really like something or enjoy the benefits of something you’re going to want more of it. However, I would like to pose the question of when is more too much?

Of course having more of many things would seem like a great situation to be in. I would love more money to pay my bills, more time to enjoy my family and friends, more time to work on my projects, and more of plenty of other things. In a child’s world, receiving more of something comes with little hassle, as children usually don’t have to work for what they’re receiving, but in the adult world, things don’t usually work that way. For more money you typically have to work harder or longer or both. For more free time you typically either have to snag a job that allows you that leeway, which usually comes with either making less money or working hard for many years to gain a position that entitles you to better pay and freedom. I myself hope to gain one of the latter positions sometime in the future and have come to terms with how hard I will have to work to get there. Watching my parents work hard to run their businesses and working hard myself throughout school has instilled a pretty solid work ethic in me. While this is a good thing, I find myself now pondering that very question I posed earlier: is more too much?

I currently find myself facing a few potential job prospects just on the horizon. All quite different at first glance, but all incorporating something I enjoy and skills I could use to reach that big job in the future. While I could probably find a way to incorporate all into my schedule, I’m not entirely sure that’s the best thing for me to do.

On the one side, I would hate to give up a job that I could really benefit from and regret not taking in the future if having it on my resume could have been that extra boost that I need. On the other, I’m very much aware of how important health and mental clarity is for performing well and for overall happiness in life. Running myself to the ground for my future only does me so much good. Two jobs could help me garner important advertising skills in a technical aspect, the other would nestle right into a love I’ve had for many years and could lead to further business endeavors, but is not as close a fit to my current job outlet.

Given that I already work a full-time and part-time job, I know in my heart I cannot take on everything, but I’m still not entirely sure where my cutoff should be for the “too much” mark. In school and throughout life I’ve always taught myself to work hard and build my skills and my appearance up in a professional manner, but I think I’ve reached a point in my life now where only my heart and intuition can truly lead me to the right decision.

Katlyn M. Lee ’12
[email protected]

Posted March 15, 2013 in Alumni.

---

Related Posts