Thanks, Julie West.

Julie West posted this link not too long ago on the fbook:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/thinking-about-the-compromise.html

These kinds of things are frequently on my brain as I plan and plot my entrance into what so many people refer to as the “real world”. Like my classmates all I want to do everyday from 9-5 is make my corner of the world better. Be it Memphis, Little Rock, Austin, or even Belize…

Like this article says, at the same point you have to make a decision. So while I would love to take a job at the MidSouth Peace and Justice Center, $18K a year is not going to cut it. I’m looking for a living more so than sainthood.

Another compromise is lifestyle. The hours we work, the miles we travel, and the time we spend with family and friends all add up to a quality of life. This is not exclusive to the nonprofit world, and it’s a decision that everybody makes at some point during their careers.

Being employed seems so far away while I’m sitting here in Belize City, but while I plan my next step after grad school these considerations will accompany my dreams and delusions of “the perfect job”.

See also: Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits and Uncharitable