What is this? From this page you can use the Social Web links to save I’ve Graduated! to a social bookmarking site, or the E-mail form to send a link via e-mail.

Social Web

E-mail

E-mail It
October 07, 2007

I’ve Graduated!

Posted in: Personal

Gyutae Park - Northwestern University Graduation 2007Ok so it’s been over 3 months since this miraculous event, but I thought I’d post it on this blog and give some sort of an update. So yes, it’s official. I’ve graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. (this stands for Bachelor of Science in case you were thinking otherwise) in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences. I switched majors about 5 times in a short 4 years, toggling between computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering until finally settling on industrial engineering. Yeah I know, it sounds like I’m an indecisive freak, but I’m glad I ended up as an IE because this field is very versatile, mixing the technical aspects of traditional engineering with the business, operations, and marketing skills I’m really interested in. Heck, I even got a minor in Business Institutions so I’m ready to change the world and make millions straight out of the box. Ha.

Like I said, Northwestern IE’s are very versatile and recent graduates have gone on to top firms for consulting, finance, investment banking, and other business fields. This is all good and gravy but if you ask me, that type of corporate culture just isn’t for me. That’s not to say that IE was a bad decision for me or that I wasted the ridiculous $120,000 I paid for college tuition. I just see a different path for my professional career, one that doesn’t involve 80 hour weeks, chains of slavery, and a cut-throat corporate environment.

So what am I looking for you ask?
Well, one of the most important ideas I learned in college is entrepreneurship, not just as a field or educational concept but as a lifestyle. I’m really not a big fan of working for work’s sake and sitting behind a desk all day watching life pass by in the name of “financial security”. I’d much rather take that extra risk involved, develop my own goals and dreams, and work on something that I’m passionate about and love to do. The possible financial rewards and personal fulfillment definitely make it all worth it to me. Being my own boss and working my own hours is a huge bonus too.

Professional Goals
That being said, I plan on developing my career as an Internet guru, creating online businesses and becoming an expert in the fields of Internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization. Sure it might take a while but I can honestly say I enjoy this stuff and am eager to learn even it if means making countless mistakes and initially losing a boatload of money.

Did I learn a lot in college? Yes, I did. Am I going to take the traditional path that society tells me to take? No, I’m not and I dare you to stop me.


Return to: I’ve Graduated!