When I was in high school I was certain that I was going to be a lawyer. I was more certain of that than anything, and as a teenager when I made up my mind, that was it. I was going to be a lawyer.
I was going to be an environmental lawyer, fighting for the little guy, bringing down the corporations that are polluting the world. I was going to make a difference.
I eventually gave up on that dream - realized that being a lawyer is many details, and points of order, and pages of papers, and no clear answers. That being the good guy is never 100% clear.
I know I would have been good at it, but it would have broken me down. I want to be the good guy. I want to know the truth. I want to stand above the fray, not get down into it. I don't want to know all the dirty little secrets. I want to believe in truth.
So I turned away from being a lawyer - maybe I could have been an excellent lawyer. Maybe I could have fought the good fight, maybe I could have vanquished the bad guys, maybe...but I am so happy I'ma park ranger and not a lawyer :)
This post definitely brought some "what could have been" thoughts for me too - but then I think I still could be a lawyer if I was so inclined after getting my phd!
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful! I am sure that being a park ranger you are making a huge difference and definitely being the good guy! I too wanted to be a lawyer but my parents discouraged me because I was not good with conflict and would cry at the drop of a hat and they would tell me that things would get heated in a courtroom and I would end up bursting into tears, hahaha! So needless to say I did not become a lawyer either! Nice post, I enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThere was a time when I wanted to do the same. But I agree with you--I think fighting the good fight would have worn me down way before my time. I don't regret not pursuing that. (How's that for a double negative?! Ha!)
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