February 25: Compare your reaction to Orwell’s if you were in a similar situation where ideologically you disagreed with your job but sense of identity/duty demanded your continue
April 18, 2008 by chantellesthoughts
There are many jobs in today’s society that certain people don’t like doing. Whether it be sitting behind a desk all day, working in care homes, etc. However, these jobs do have people that do enjoy working in them.
In the short story “Shooting and Elephant”, Orwell had to shoot an elephant, however he didn’t agree with he. He felt it was wrong to shoot an elephant just for its actions. Yes at one time it was harmful, but when he found the elephant in its own environment it seemed harmless. He ended up shooting it though, because he did not want to let down the people who looked up to him.
In life there are always going to be jobs you don’t want to do, however depending on the job, you should be doing it for the good of others. For example if your sitting behind a desk answering phones and you don’t like well then maybe you should seek some other kind of career. If you are in a career that involves helping people, (teacher, home-care aide, etc) think of what the people think of you. I want to become a Home- Care aide, and I want to be there to help the people in the homes whether it be Seniors, Disabbled etc. I am going into the career because I would like to do it, but if twenty years down the line, I may try to find something else, but the people I work for and with would impact me greatly.
Going to work into a Senior home or a home with live in residents, I won’t be just doing it for the pay cheque. I will be going to work because I want to make a difference in some ones life. I had a taste of this when my Grandma was in the home before she passed, and as much as I hated seeing my Grandma in that home, I knew she enjoyed the help she recieved. Whenever I would visit her, her smile would brighten the room. I was making a difference. I guess you could say my Grandma inspired me to become what I am going to become later on in life.
In the story “Shooting and Elephant”, Orwell may have hated the job he had to do, but he did give the people around him the security and protection they needed. You may feel your not making a difference with your career, but you are, somehow!
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Chantelle,
Again I enjoyed reading this blog entry. Your reasoning behind what you want to do when you graduate is very interesting, something I have never known about you. I can relate to what you are doing after school to what I am interested in. I am going to be going to school for a Medical Assistant to help others and create an impact on someone else’s life, maybe even help them make decisions in certain situations. I can understand your thoughts and feelings you have towards other people, and it truly shows the kind of person you are and will become!
Chantel.