Choices

Good grief that working student topic blew up didn't it?

But we have a saying in journalism: If you don't piss someone off, you aren't doing your job.

I love the fact that the topic has so many people talking. No matter their opinion, I really enjoyed reading them all - on here, and on Boyd's site and the Chronicle Forums. Also, Kelly wrote a nice related post at Dressage Pony.

I'm sorry if I sounded whiney or "poor me, I haz no monies!".

It comes down to choices. And a bit of luck. And good timing.

I was a working student/groom of sorts for a Morgan show barn for several summers through high school and college. I worked long, hard days. I did get paid ($200 a week), but I was in school and lived with my parents. (And also ate their food).

Then I made the choice to go to the University of Findlay for an equestrian education. I was sure I wanted to pursue horses as a career. I spent 2 years there.

After two years, I made another choice. To transfer to another school and get a "real" degree so that I had something to fall back on in case I got hurt with horses.

After graduating, I made the choice to accept a job at a newspaper. I chose journalism because I like it. I followed my heart and not my brain. I really had no clue how little the industry would offer me. I had ABSOLUTELY no clue the entire industry (and economy) would crash and burn 6 years later.

I made the choice to stick with a newspaper job because of the job security (until recently, anyway), health insurance, benefits and all that good stuff.

In 2009, I chose to sell my horse. Then I chose to buy another one.

The reason I am where I am is a direct result of the choices I have made. I should never have purchased my big truck. I should have never moved out of the original apartment I found when I moved here. Following Phish around in 2009 and racking up tremendous debt on my credit card was the most fun I think I have ever had. But not a wise thing to do. Those were bad financial choices. 


I am really great at being indecisive. And by not making a choice, I make a choice. This character flaw has influenced every single area of my life.

The situation I am in is a direct result of my own choices. No one made me a victim. It's up to me to make the changes. I'm trying!

Stepping back and looking at things, though. I really do live the dream. I do what I love every day (ride horses). I have an amazing horse that I adore. We are both healthy. I still have a job. I have a very different life than many of my friends (I don't have a hubs, kids or anyone to answer to), and that's ok. That's their choice and this is mine.

I still have many more choices to make.

"Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's always your choice."

"The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice!"