Several years ago, Australian Sureyya Kose decided to switch her boring (but well-paid) information technology career as a systems operator for a life in archaeology. She's been telling us her story ever since, in hilarious and poignant letters from the field. Her story began with her decision to make the change, through struggling to get into school, as a part time student and then as a full time student. In Part 8, as she nears graduation, Sureyya describes how she spent the last year trying to get work experience in the field, and braving the world of contract archaeology.
Sureyya's Journey
Sureyya Kose
- Part 1: A Career Change to Archaeology
- Part 2: Career Research in Archaeology
- Part 3: A Bump in the Road
- Part 4: Sometimes Life Intervenes
- Part 5: Being a Freshman
- Part 6: Part-Time Student / Part-Time Job
- Part 7: Full Time Student
- Part 8: Sureyya the Shovel Bum
Comments
I can realate to Sureyya. I’ve been fascinated by archaeology since I was five years old, but could not afford colloege, and have had to work for 35 years in a pie factory to pay the bills.
I’ve now been fighting cancer for five years, and am determined to beat it and go on with my–which will heavily involve archaeology. Life is too short to be doing anything other than what you love.
To that end, I’m investigating an online course offering a BA in Archaeology. I’m worried that it might just be a diploma mill, and they don’t provide much insight into the teachers’ qualifications, but they do have course you need to take, and if you fail, you fail–you don’t get your degree. I’m also involving myself in local archaeology, with plans to conduct an extensive survey on sites in my home town of Traverse City, Michigan, and am planning on taking some local NAS courses in underwater archaeology. I’m already working on National Park Services certifications in Cultural Resource Curation and Site Interpretation. I’ll be doing some small-scale excavations as well, and am doing a lot of studying at local museums and cultural centers.
Take it from me–life is too short to be doing anything but what you love.
Great comment from Howard. Hope he perseveres and thrives. His passion is admirable. Excellent point on working for the NPS in a capacity where one can grow and learn, as well as contribute to the big picture. cheers.