lpret's Journal: A New Major

Alright. I decided to change my major. At least the one. No longer am I an Information Systems (ISY) major emphasizing in Performance Improvement Technology (PIT) doubled with International Business emphasizing in Asian Development (ADR) -- I am now a Human Resources (HRM) and International Business double-major. So I'm staying in the business school.

Why the change? As I started taking the PIT classes, I realized I enjoyed the learning techniques of people and how best to write programs to encourage people to learn. I have always enjoyed training and teaching, for example, when I worked for Starbucks, I did a lot of training not only for my store but for other stores in the South Dallas/Arlington district. I enjoyed writing practical guides to making drinks, writing cleaning instructions that were easier to follow and use. And in fact, some of my instructions are now found in the manual distributed with the La Marzoco espresso machines. So, I thought that writing programs to train people would bring that same pleasure.
But it doesn't -- I hate sitting in front of a computer and just writing PHP, C#, or ASP. I sat down with my mom, who's the VP of International Human Resources at Wycliffe Bible Translators and we talked about what specifically I enjoy. It was not the actual creation of training tools, but the conception and use of these tools. Though I believe that if I conceive an idea, I am capable of creating it, though not as motivated. 2 Corinthians 8:11 is an interesting verse I ran across, But now complete also the doing, so that as there was the eagerness in intending, so also there would be the completing out of what you have. Interesting verse that motivated me to finish writing some programs, and think about finishing in general.

So, there you have it, a new major, I think I'll enjoy it. I'm not too sure about all the negative connotations that HR brings, but I think I'll enjoy what I do. It also gets me thinking about grad work -- like maybe I should do it in Sociology, since that's what i love. Maybe work on theory of training. So anyways, life is always interesting. I heard a good line from some TV show: "If someone's willing to lie for you, they're willing to lie to you." It was The Agency, perhaps my favourite TV show (though I don't watch much TV when I'm at school).

I hated HR

[splume]

I graduated with an IS degree from U. of Colorado and ended up taking enough HR classes to get a "minor" in it. Let me tell you that I hated every second of every HR class I was in. Maybe it was the profs, maybe it was the material, but I just thought it was so lame.

The course material (and I did take every available HR course) was focused on hiring, firing, employee moral, management, policies, documentation, etc.

I see that you are an idealist, but from what I have seen HR is primarily used for paperwork. If you are interested in "creating" and coming up with new ideas, I would recommend a consulting job (maybe HR consulting actually) where you get to plan and write up all of you ideas for implmentation.

That's just my 2 very biased cents.

Re:I hated HR

[lpret]

Of course I'm an idealist, I'm a college student!

I guess I enjoy training. HR is the closest there is to it. I agree with you completely that I should pursure consulting, that's actually what I'm thinking of doing. But, I have two years, so I've got a while.

Thanks for the comments