Why does it seem that each time I feel like I've answered one question, that answer opens doors to a thousand other questions? Once I feel like I have landed, that landing space becomes the springboard to hundreds of other potential landing places?
Let me explain. In 2006, I graduated from the University of Iowa with a Ph.D. in music. This had been a pretty clear-cut path for me for a long time - since I was in high school, in fact. I had never left college, earning a bachelor's degree in 2001 and a masters degree in 2003. I was all set to go forth into the world to become and academic musician. All I needed was a job. A job- there's the rub. The job never actually came, at least not in the way I expected it to. After many months of searching, applying, being rejected or never acknowledged at all, I was forced to conclude that there would be no 2006-2007 school year for me and began to evaluate options. I took a job in a coffee shop for a while (I know, cliche, right) and then got a gig at an insurance company. Turns out I hate to be micromanaged (whoda thunk...) but kinda liked insurance.
Anyhow, I stuck it out with the insurance company for a couple of years until it became clear that I was going nowhere fast (which happens when you hate your job). So I cobbled together a meager existence as a musician. This meant teaching at two different schools and driving about 500 miles a week. Exhausting. I also got a gig at a church which wasn't too bad at first (don't get me wrong - I have no beef with The Church in general, but I do have some issues with That Church which aren't appropriate for listing here). The problem here was that each of these (except the church) was a temporary gig so each November and May I would feel my stomach muscles start to tighten as I waited to find out if I was gonna get to teach again the following semester. For four years, with the appropriate amount of conniving and begging, I was allowed to do so. I even got to teach in the summer once.
Things got to be good enough that I found a girlfriend and was lucky enough to talk her into marrying me. This is where things get a little nuts. With a wife and a kid and a soon-to-be kid to support, it became clear that my part-time teaching gig wasn't going to cut it. The problem was what I was going to do about it. As odd as it may seem with the education that I have, my options were pretty limited. I began to wonder about going back to school - maybe I could get another M.A. and teach some more classes. That'd be cool.
The question then became "An M.A. in what?" Musicology? God no. Art History? Didn't seem to open too many doors. English? An obvious choice, but could I handle two years of esoteric litarary theory? Probably not. Before long, I was recalling something I'd explored once before. Law school. Sure - I could do it online. It'd be easy, right? Well, here's the rub. Only one state lets you take the bar exam with an online law degree. Better yet, I don't live there. But the idea of going to law school wouldn't go away. So I actually mentioned it to the wife. She agreed that it seemed like a good idea. I'd go to Local University and get the ol' J.D. Too bad Local University is a Top 25 Law School. Not everyone gets in there. Even people with Ph.D.'s
So we were set - law school. Now the questions start - should I do it? I'm not sure we've answered that one. Could I do it? The LSAT said so. Is so, where? When? How are we going to pay for it? Should I do it? Wait, I asked that one already. Well, long story short (too late, I know), we've decided to go for it. I mailed in my seat deposit to a university somewhat near me (that is, less than a day's drive away). Now begins the hard part - getting all of the ducks in a row for all of us (me, the wife, the kids) to move.
As I said - why does it seem like every time I answer one question, a thousand others pop up. Where will we live? Will Amy get a job? Will we like the schools, the neighbors, the other students? Will it all be worth it in the end? I've been here before - staring down the start of a new school year in a city where I don't know anybody. But this time its different. So...
Here we go again. A new school, a new career, a new life in a new place. Stay tuned to this 'blog for the answers to life's toughest questions.
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