This is a new series, where I recount my journey, logic and reasoning behind making the shift from accountancy in Reno, NV to TEFL in Bangkok, Thailand.

I’ve always been a history fanatic really from elementary school. Whenever watching TV, History Channel would be my pic. Show like Enterprise 360 was what I enjoyed watching. When I started high school that didn’t change, history was my favorite class and I took the college level course that my high school offered. I was often at the top of my class for history related courses based on no merit of mine, it was just a natural gift I got based on the luck of the draw.

By the 10th grade I asked my history teacher what I could do with a history degree. She said some words, I don’t remember what she said. I remember what one of my teachers said,

“I believe half of what I see and none of what I hear.”

I saw that she was a history major, and she taught what she learned rather then providing a useful service to society (not to say education isn’t important, because it is.) But it is different then when someone studies medicine or engineering and becomes a doctor or builds bridges respectively.

I realized this when it was time to start college. And I came to the conclusion that there really isn’t a job market for history majors.

So during my freshman orientation at the University of Nevada, Reno, I decided to go practical and change my major from history to accounting. I told one of the other freshman it was nice and steady, which is why I picked it. I’ve learned since then that the practical choice ain’t always the best choice. But that’s a story for another time.

Kingston S. Lim

May 12, 2020