My Dream

I’ve spent the past 5 years after graduating with a BFA in Graphic Design living with my father and spending most of my time and money traveling. Well, if you look at my bank account statements, my money actually goes more towards eating, but traveling is a close second. I keep wanting to do more, to find my place in the world and start a career and build a home for myself. Anytime I think about moving to a different state, I’m filled with dread. Thinking about staying here, in Texas, another year, I’m field with dread. (Okay fine, I’m filled with dread...)

I decided I was going to become a writer and move out!

Only, I kept traveling. And while I have self-published a few stories and feel I could potentially make a living doing so if I stuck with it, I also found that traveling a lot makes it difficult to focus on a story long enough to get shit done, unless it’s already written out and just needs editing. Though, that’s still a challenge. On the flip side, staying home when I could be traveling makes me utterly depressed (not counting the current pandemic because I know I can’t go out so writing has been my salvation).

Last year, 2019, I decided what I wanted to do: archaeology. I’ve had my eye on archaeology for awhile, now, but it was last year that I finally decided to make the leap and go for it! Only to discover... I needed some kind of degree in archaeology. No problem, I said! I’ll get a master’s. After all, I took some art history courses for my BFA and that’s similar, right? That was actually what began my journey to decide on archaeology. I wanted to either do that or become an art history professor and travel the world and tell my students crazy stories like my professors did. Archaeology only won out because I realized I can read news on archaeology and get excited but when a friend wants to take me to a contemporary art museum because surely that’s what someone like me, with an art background would want to do, I get very much unexcited.

On to my degree-hunting! It soon became clear to me I had no hope, whatsoever, of getting a master’s in archaeology without a degree related in the field AND 3 recommendations. As someone who hasn’t held a steady job or been to school in nearly half a decade, things weren’t looking so great. Then, I discovered Harvard Extension School. Que the choir music! They offered a mostly-online master’s degree in archaeology/anthropology, no letters needed, no particular background. Of course, with further research, I discovered it was an ALM, whatever that meant, but I was optimistic. A little costly, but at least most of my time would be at home, right?

I took the first few classes and had liberal papers thrown in my face like Mormon boys back when I lived in that income-based apartments over a decade ago. I didn’t necessarily disagree with the views, but having it forced on me turned me of real quick to that class; I think it was a writing class. I quickly realized it was more like a degree in anthropology theories and while I think anthropology and archaeology go hand-in-hand, I also felt like calling that degree in any way archaeology was misleading. Maybe it can lead to a career in archaeology, I have no idea. But I just couldn’t deal with the lack of diversity in the papers, which I now realize is total irony because the papers specifically fought for diversity in the fields of statistics.

I dropped out while I could still get a full refund, totally bummed I wouldn’t be finishing Davíd Carrasco’s   Moctezuma’s Mexico Then and Now class. I haven’t yet finished the book but I have notes in it like crazy and recommend it anytime someone gives me a reason to think they’d be interested in it (the guy’s version of The History and Conquest of New Spain).

Upon extending my research outside the United States, the Holy Grail was presented to me: University of Warsaw. Fun little fact, I met a Polish guy in New Orleans this past February and discovered my pronunciation of Warsaw wasn’t even remotely accurate... either that, or there was a vast miscommunication dilemma going on between us which, to be fair, would be completely believable. It was a loud club and he barely knew English. I have his polish number, though, so I guess I can ask if I ever make it over there!

University of Warsaw offers a master’s program in Archaeology in English! Oh my! There was a note saying people coming from different degrees may need to take 3 ‘make-up’ courses if admitted. Hell yeah, I’m in! I wish I had known then what I know now. Namely, that an interview of archaeology knowledge would be required and they have a reading list of 3 books that total to over 1,100 pages.

Nonetheless, I was exited! I didn’t figure there would be much chance of me getting in, so I decided to sign up for a few digs this year, one of which even offered credit. Perfect, right? I would learn shit and maybe sound like I belonged in that program!

And then the pandemic hit. I watched as each of the digs were cancelled, one after another. Still, I got in contact with Texas State University, my previous college. I had them send a letter stating I was qualified for a master’s degree and send notarized versions of my transcript and diploma which I promptly forwarded to the state to have them attach an apostille to it. University of Warsaw moved back application dates, but as soon as the time rolled around, I started my application!

That was when I realized my reading assignment. I immediately bought the 3 books, despite watching the chances of my getting in drop significantly. I’m still waiting on the third. Then I looked up articles online and realized... it’s not going to happen. Even if, by some slim chance of a miracle I am able to talk my way into this program, which by the way have exactly the kind of curriculum I want (I mean, do you have any idea how many types of archaeology there are? Okay, I was also considering underwater archaeology but that’s probably even more unlikely), if by some miracle they let me in... I can’t go because I’m from USA, a country not allowed in Europe because of how we’ve handled the pandemic. Even worse, I’m in Texas and we have horrid numbers.

I emailed the people at the university to ask if my documents would be fine if I applied in a year or two from now, since they don’t expire until 2023, but there must have been a slight miscommunication because instead of dropping out as I had intended, the response was the reading list.

My backup plan was to go to school in Virginia to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer and do digs as a volunteer. Before I can get into that program, I first have to take basic classes which will take a year or two to complete (though I only need 2 intro, 2 bio, 1 physics, and 1 math so... 6 classes). Then I apply to the program and hope to get in. I’m signed up and paid for the first 2 classes.

But what about the reading?? you may ask. Well, I’ve just finished chapter 1 of the big book on theories, methods, and practice. My hopes of getting into this program have dwindled down to about 5%. That 5% is keeping me going in the hopes that I can do the interview in time and do it well and maybe, just maybe, when things are okay again, I can re-apply and it’ll be that much easier.

From what I’ve seen, archaeologists don’t get paid much and have a hard time getting jobs. Many become professors to supplement their income. The only other career that I desire more is writing. Archaeologists affect the past, the present, and even the future. They study the past, they change the present, and they’re setting things up for the future. Plus, they’re smart and look at old shit. Sounds fun to me.