The ROI of Irrationality: What Grad School Actually Taught Me

I went to graduate school to specialize in computer graphics. I came out of it to find a job market that had practically vanished.If I had listened to the conventional wisdom of the time, I would have pivoted. I would have cut my losses, updated my resume to reflect a safer trajectory, and moved on. For a time I did do just that and pivoted to computer security. But I realized it would be better to dig my heels in and commit to the career I wanted. Today, I have that career. But let’s be entirely clear: it wasn’t the institution or the degree that got me here. It was sheer, unadulterated stubbornness.Looking back on that journey, there are a few hard truths about goals, higher education, and the absolute necessity of refusing to compromise.The Danger of Being "Rational"Throughout my life, I have developed a deep resentment for the advice to "be rational." We are constantly told to temper our expectations, play the percentages, and have a pragmatic fallback plan.Here is the reality: in…