Cliffs Notes: What would you be doing if you weren't doing whatever this is? Creativity always finding you, and vice versa; situational praise; high school accomplishments not being the best indicator of how you'll grow up (imagine that!); wishing for a class on dental insurance; being attracted to the *idea* of a career rather than that career itself; hitting a professional peak at 18; the influence of good Neighbors; a lesson from Professor Neeson; discrediting the skills that we don't get paid for; The Ballad of the Lifelong Learner.