I think it is important to be able to support oneself. We always hear " passion, passion, passion." What about " food, shelter, paying loans." She can absolutely continue to do her art.and it is only her first job out of school! I think she made her own decision and she’ll decide if it was the right one.
What is Epic? I am not familiar with it.
Epic produces and supports health-care electronic records software. It’s the largest private sector employer in Dane County, Wisconsin (home to the state capital, Madison; and UW-Madison).
As I get older and as I changed jobs, the more it is clear to me that finding your “passion” might be an illusion for some of us. Find something you enjoy doing that pays well and an even higher reach…one that gives you a bit of a flexible schedule…and THEN you have time to do your passion.
I posted a thread last fall about my D and her passion for photography. I was fretting about how she wanted to major in photography, etc. and how would she do that? Well, she stated her own small photography business doing family portraits and such and after two months guess what happened? She rarely picked up her camera for “fun.” Gone were the days when we would hear her running through the house and the front door slamming because she wanted to capture the sunset. Gone. She hated having to take pictures for pay and to do what the customer wanted her to do and it induced such anxiety in her that it just wasn’t worth it.
So now she has changed gears and realized she wants to do something that interests her and yet that pays well enough so she can travel and do the stuff she really enjoys.
If she be moving to Madison, WI with a lease start date of July 1st she may enjoy the Art Fair on the Square:
http://www.mmoca.org/events/special-events/art-fair-square/art-fair-square
(Click on Participating Artists)
One of my D’s college roommates works there now. She wasn’t able to find a job in her field, and the Epic position was her first offer. A year and a half later, she likes it pretty well - nice people and workplace, and finds Madison a great place to live.
Again, thanks to all - Madison85, thanks for the tip about the Art Fair!
I know several parents hose kids worked for Epic. Some loved it, some didn’t. But she has a job! Congrats!
Not all who apply get in at Epic. Congrats on a good job offer, great company to start with and a great place to live. She obviously considered this a viable option and will learn a lot of real world living skills. Plus she will be with, literally, thousands of young adults instead of being on her own in many other possible job scenarios. She will get valuable skills for other future jobs as well and spend time being trained for her job while being paid. She may work there only a short time like many others but that is not unexpected as well. She also needs to check out the artwork on the Epic campus- indoors and out. Son worked there a couple of years in CS before deciding to move on and was recruited by a major firm. Epic has a national reputation and working there adds to one’s resume.
Think of this as an excellent start in the working world for her. She’ll meet a lot of people her age and not be socially isolated, especially with the mandatory group training all new employees do together all day for several weeks. And- getting paid to do so. Many use this as a first job before moving on. Be prepared for her to report job changes in the future. This time with a better financial status and knowledge of how to handle tons of those real world details.
I always went for the money and wound up drifting. I have a friend who only did one thing in her field and is wildly successful