Graduating in 8 months

I turned in my graduation application today, paid my fee, and if nothing goes wrong, I will be graduating June 16th, 2007. Last week I had an interview at a bank for a part-time teller position. During the course of the interview one of the people asked me, “What is your goal?” I completely froze, not knowing what to say. Luckily something interrupted us, allowing me to think for a moment, which lead me to ask a clarifying question, “Do you mean employment wise?” That of course is what was meant, and I went on to explain how I would be so excited to be working for their bank for many years to come. It may seem kind of silly for me to even think that he may be asking something other than employment goals, but in my defense I am in college, and it seems like I am asked by, or made to think about, life goals constantly, so when one asks me what my goal is I automatically assume they are talking about life goals. I do of course have a ready answer for that question, but the answer isn’t one that I thought would look good for a job interview. My normal response is, “To retire at the age of 30” not because I actually think that I will obtain that, but it gives me something to say that usually evokes a smile or laugh. I am then usually asked what I plan to do after I retire. I don’t really have a set answer for that one, but I will often say something along the lines of, “Lay around the house, watch T.V., drink, eat, and be merry.” which usually evokes more laughter and/or smiles as they assume that I simply have no idea what I want to do and the conversation moves on. You can see why I wouldn’t have wanted to give that answer to an interview for a bank. I do have a more substantial goal in life, but it is much more nebulous and evokes questions which I do not have answers to, thus I stick with my other answer.

I want to change the world. I remember the first time I said that, it was when I wanted to be in politics, and I was asked why I wanted to be in politics, I replied bright eyes and naive, “I want to change the world.” It was easier to answer follow-up questions when I wanted to be in politics, but now I have to admit that I really just don’t know how, or in what form, or what part of the world. Of course, with this goal, a goal that I have had for many years, I am starting to ask myself, “Why?”, “What’s the point?”, “Does it even matter?”. These are questions that, when posed by myself, I simply shrug my shoulders and say, “I don’t know.” Thus, I stick with my much simpler and lighter answer.