The recent tragedy in Boston has brought my attention to the undercover heroes.

 

I think as Americans we share a united respect for members of the military, doctors, police officers, nurses and all other people who have made the sacrifice and decision to dedicate their lives to serve the public.

 

While many people focus on picking a career that will  benefit them the most financially or give them the most influential power in a community, these men and women choose to give of their talents and services to better a nation.

 

It is at trying times such as the time our nation is currently facing that these service men and women take a lead role in restoring the public and the public’s interest.

 

I think it is important to recognize these peoples admirable work not only in times of tragedy, but be thankful for what they do every day. It is the people who are underpaid and underappreciated who keep our nation in the condition we love and have come to expect it to be in.

This week I interviewed the nursing students at my school and as a result ended up learning a life lesson from a middle aged student, father, and full time worker.

By asking a few simple questions he revealed to me the struggles he’s faced trying to juggle doing it all. He explained how his wife has been a single mother for the past couple years while he’s been pursuing a nursing degree and working a full time job. It was truly heartbreaking to hear him confess his desire to be with his six kids while they are growing up. He said its one thing to show up to a soccer game and say hi, but another to be there with them when they are upset and talk to them about their day at school.

 

I asked him why he was pursuing a degree in nursing because he already had a degree and a full time job. That’s when he revealed his passion for helping others. He said he could work in the business field for the rest of his life but there’s no fulfillment in that. He saw that field as being all about earning as much money as you can and he didn’t see any long term happiness in spending his life doing that.

I think this is one of the biggest life lessons I can learn. While growing up society tells us that your aren’t successful in life unless you earn the maximum amount of profit and money that you can. I truly admire this nursing student for leaving the comfort of a well paying full time job to pursue something that he felt a calling to do.

In risk management Tuesday I learned that I shouldn't expect to retire until at least the age of 67. This means that I should expect to invest approximately 45 years into my chosen career path.

Reading further into my textbooks for school I'm realizing how innovative workers need to be in order to keep up with changing fields in today’s working world.

The internet is only about 25 to 30 years old. This means that when the older generation entered the work force they didn’t have anywhere near the technology that we do today. This was a huge innovation that they had to work with and adapt to. The invention of the internet and overall changes in technology are important to keep up with not only in their respective fields but in every field. Utilizing the technology we have available can only make us grow and increase the abilities of ourselves and our company.

If the internet was invented in the current working adult’s career, I can’t imagine what kind of curveball will be thrown at my generation. Being stubborn and unwilling to learn and adapt to new things simply won’t be an option for workers who want to be successful. Success will include a mandatory ability to accept new challenges that maybe we weren’t taught exactly how to handle in school.

I’m understanding that learning doesn’t stop when you walk across the stage and earn a degree. It will never stop, and that’s not a bad thing.