A dedicated place for thoughtful discussion about the state of the world as it stands today and how we are coping.
Hey human,
I didn’t think I would need to post here, but I feel I’m at a cross roads. I would really appreciate some advice from some collapse aware individuals as the advice I get from everyone else just isn’t cutting it. I’ll get straight to the point.
I’m currently putting myself through my post graduate studies. Like many I felt lost after my vague undergrad and wanted to continue living the student life a little longer (I know I should grow up).
I did social science and was really drawn towards social work as a possible field of work. I just felt that field needed more males to get involved, and it just felt like a good fit for the type of person I am.
However, I have also been really drawn to environmental stuff (no surprise growing up during all this shite). Even prior to finding r/collapse I was always very drawn to climate change as a topic. As a result of this interest and love for the natural world, I put my hat in the ring for a ecological, management, and policy masters program my uni offers. It’s been great.
Yet, at the end of my first semester I really don’t know if I should continue. I love learning about this stuff, as scary as it is. But I don’t see where this will take me. I don’t want to be radicalised but it honestly feels like a really serious possibility at this point.
People in my life say I should stick with it, get a job in a relevant field and help find a way out of this mess. Except I really don’t feel like there is a way out. Also I’m one person, what do I know. My understanding of ecological overshoot, warming in the pipeline, feed back loops, and current levels of warming make me feel hopeless.
I guess I just feel like in two years time I’ll be working a job that won’t really change the situation for the better. Plus I’ll have a bunch of formal knowledge about how screwed we are.
Where as, if I cut my losses now I could go back to the social work thing. But that’s makes me feel like I’m sticking my head in the sand. That makes me feel worse.
I don’t know what I’m looking for, just to vent I guess. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks for reading doomer!
Mate, at this point I’d just do what makes you happy and try not to make the situation worse. The party’s over.
Yeah that’s sort of what I’m leaning towards. I guess I’m just scared and confused.
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate the input. All the best for the future.
I hope you have as much time to adjust as I did, before it all really starts unraveling. Those stages of grief can be brutal. After the years since I realised what’s coming, I’ve found some peace in acceptance.
I have definitely gone through a couple grieving cycles. Think I’m in one now, probs what prompted this post tbh.
Sometimes I’m inspired and what to take revenge. But at the moment I feel like no matter what I do my life and time on earth is all for jack. Guess that’s always been the case. Just now we have an actual approaching deadline.
I’ve found great comfort in science. Imagine how beautiful the earth will be after we’ve gone. And other theories ie that time is not linear, multiple dimensions etc etc
I don’t think there are many jobs out there that will really scratch the itch to save the world. In reality, many environmental grads wind up doing impactful work for the environment though. It’s just a matter if you can find a job that you like and you feel like you are doing something helpful. Whether that is managing an ecological preservation, working in the regulatory field, or doing research in ecology, or whatever niche field you wind up in, just know that you can make a difference. Small wins that don’t amount to much on a global scale at all, but there isn’t anything one person can do to stop these global forces that generations have put in place. The only thing you have agency over, is your own actions and the small bubble of connections with the planet and people around you. You can’t save the world, if you make the environment you are working in a more sustainable ecosystem than that small ecosystem benefits that wouldn’t without your specific input from knowledge you earned over years of study and eventually work. Things build momentum, you might not feel like you are doing important work now but the knowledge you are earning may contribute to a role you play down the line.
You can still go into social work and you will help people for sure, that’s a fine career path that you can do after your grad program. You don’t gotta stick with the same job field after you graduate.
I would stick with the program for 2 more years to finish it out so you have options in determining what you want to do.
I see all kinds of super cool environmental jobs that seem much more fulfilling for masters and PhD grads
Thank you for your comment Alpaca. I think you are right, Im probably just stressed and burnt out after reading and writing about this stuff for the past couple months.
I did have the thought as well, always being about to go to social work in the end. I do really love what I’m learning about now. Like I said in the other comment, I guess I’m just having a grieving moment.
Than you again, your comment just lifted my spirits before bed.
Social workers are not paid what they are worth. Stick with what you are doing & maybe even though you can’t save the world you could work on some neat stuff. More interesting than social work.
I wish I had studied permaculture
It would be a alright living I think. Idk I think I was just having a bit of a moment today. Thanks for your comment
It’s good that you want to do something to help. I won’t discourage you from trying. I would just add that I agree with the previous commenter, it’s pretty much just waiting for the last, sticky bits of hell to work out of the jar, and finally break loose. So, try to help; you have my support. I just agree that doing what makes you happy and doesn’t contribute to the problems is more than most people are willing to do.
Yeah that’s the issue isn’t it, waiting for the jar to break. I guess it just hard to frame happiness with the collapse outlook. It’s a pretty vicious self sealing argument, except it’s back up with hard science.
Thanks for your comment, I really appreciate your perspective. Thanks for sharing, all the best for the future.
Yes, that’s a great way of putting it, one that I use quite often. It’s a gloomy, dismal perspective, and under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t approve of such cynicism. Except, there’s that pesky little thing called science that keeps breathing its awful breath in our faces, and invading our personal space, reminding us that it ain’t going away.
We will be existing in this world for as long as we live, we have to try to make it better in some way we can. You can’t just wait around for the cookie to crumble because the years and years that go by will not be spent well if you only look to the future.
Make something small better, whether it’s personal relationships, or an ecosystem you are familiar with
I have a more practical mindset so I say just take the choice that will produce the best path to making money.
You know how on airplanes there are signs that say a parent should put their gasmask on before they put one on their child? Well there is a reason for that. If the parent passes out then everybody dies including the child.
You should establish yourself and be able to support yourself and get your ducks in a row. After you do that you will be far more able to act in this world towards whatever goals you have. Whether those goals are solutions, mitigations, preparations or celebrations.
That’s the thing, where I live it’ll be pretty similar income levels. I’d be comfy as by myself so problem. I just worry how long we have to really “establish” myself. Let alone enjoy the establishment
Thanks for your perspective I appreciate it
If both paths have similar income levels then go with the path that has the shortest time to first income.
As to time I have my own perspectives, but nobody knows.
I think it's worth it to try and fight the good fight even if the odds of winning are basically nil. I think with either social work or environmental work you'll be contributing to the world.
I’m with you there, I want to fight all the way to the end. Thank you for your comment, cheered me up before bed
Doctors in emergency rooms try their best because when they confront the patient’s family, they want to say that they tried their best. Try your best to save an ecosystem but you may have to pick a battle you can win.
No turning it off at this point, if you don’t find a way to help / contribute then it’s possible your emotions will actually become more overwhelming
Embrace the radicalization, reality is radical
I've personally found eco-socialist/eco-marxist writings (plus a good dash of Murray Bookchin) to be illuminating when it comes to understanding collapse
I don't think social work is necessarily putting your head in the sand, collapse is a socio-ecological phenomenon and there is no legitimate "fix" for these issues that doesn't involve social justice
Collapse is coming. In a sense it’s here and ongoing. But so is survival and adaptation. The study of ecology is important, not only as one kind of solution to current predicaments, but also as a frame of reference for a less alienated existence and maybe a more hopeful future. You are learning ideas to pass on to your friends and family and maybe children one day. You are part of a continuum of human understanding. One person can’t solve these problems, but we can plant seeds for future generations. Whoever survives and has to adapt to this mess will need people who understand plants and natural systems. Just by living and learning and trying to have a meaningful life in the midst of this unfolding tragedy - that alone helps us go on.