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| At a turning point...normalcy? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 12 2008, 05:57 PM (1,025 Views) | |
| JumpTheMoon | Mar 13 2008, 09:40 AM Post #31 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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You're definitely NOT alone! I am in the same position at 22 except I already have a degree. In Canada you can get 3 year general Bachelors (only difference is that you can't minor in anything) which is nice if you don't want to get a masters or PhD. My only advice is to make sure the degree is something you are remotely interested in. I did 2 years in Economics and hated every minute of it but stuck it out because I thought it would get better or I would get smarter or something. All I got out of that were crappy marks and a low self esteem. I finally switched to something I liked a lot more (International Studies, concentration in business). My marks soared but I didn't have enough time to redeem my GPA which is low and IMO does not reflect my actual abilities. Don't go in to business just because it's useful; it's NOT useful if you're not good at it or don't enjoy it. I as well have no idea what I can really see myself doing for a decent length of time and stay happy. I landed a great job at a great company and it pays fairly well for a job righ tout of school (Proposals Specialist) but I cannot see myself doing 'this' type of office work and staying sane. I have also realized you need to be making a lot more than 40k a year to be able to afford a house, car, insurance, horse and some horse shows which are the ingredients to making ME happy at least. I have always wanted to go to law school, and find Human rights/Child welfare law very fascinating, but I doubt any school would accept me based on my marks. At least not the ones I'd want to go to - and they aren't even top tier. And the idea of coming out of school 90k in debt is very daunting. I could also see myself teaching, in nursing, or doing social work of some sort (notice the minimal office/lots of people interaction theme?) but again thats another 2-3 years of school so I SO know where you're coming from. And I would love to have a sales barn but don't ever want to be at a point where I don't look forward to going ot the barn. Hang in there and if you ever want to chat feel free to PM me. |
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| 3Bays | Mar 13 2008, 09:51 AM Post #32 |
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You're BANNED!
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Glad you all liked the links and hope they help anyone looking for info or researching possibilities...I could have added more, but I don't want to overwhelm anybody!
I'm someone who's also had troubles trying to figure out what all to do in my life. I have MANY interests!!! Some aren't "money makers" or would offer me money to live on, but some are. The hard part initially was trying to figure out which interests/skills were "career" worthy and which others were "side job or hobby" worthy. Side jobs since age 14: cutting and styling hair, tutoring in languages, grooming dogs, freelance copywriting, commissioned artwork...alllll of these are also possible good solid career paths to make money and live on...just didn't work out for me personally...and, I think there were personality characteristics which negated them for ME as life career paths...but, they are great interests of mine still and can still bring in some $. Training animals, riding and training horses, reading, sewing, cooking and crafts are things I also love to do...but I've never made any real money with these...well, I've saved money with some!...because those are just enjoyable hobbies for me). So, personally, I divide interests/talents into the "real money-makers", "the pin money makers" and the "fun but no money honey" sections! In college I eventually got two degrees: pre-law and biology. Now, I was HIGHLY criticized by the parents for doing this...my father wanted me to get a BS in Business Admin...just NOT my style. (I paid for my college, so his criticism only carried so much!)...I totally appreciated that he felt that was the best way to go to take care of myself and open doors (he was probably right!)...but, I did it the odd way. Flash forward: ended up working as one of the first paralegals in my state (they were NEW waaaaaayyy back then!), and ended up working in medical/hospital litigation. I used all that biology for research, exhibit prep, records analysis, deposition analysis and helping at trials.Having worked as a nursing assistant during college at the local hospital helped, too...it gave me real life skills in assessment of patient records. This job was with the largest law firm in my state at the time, and I was making BIG $$$ for a woman back then...plus, having the chance to find out I liked the law. Finished law school and eventually went with some others to a new firm, continuing in civil litigation with my own interest in medical malpractice. Eventually, was a bit tired of the law...and, via a connection with a big pharmacuetical company who encouraged me to revisit career issues, I went into the pharmaceutical industry having had also taken some graduate chemistry/biochem/pharmacueutical courses (which were supportive of the legal career, but also gave me yet more skills and knowledge). Again, I was only one of two women in the country doing what I did, but I LOVED it...(happy to say this was before the industry got SO DAMN GREEDY). Anyway, then I ended up working with a couple of large Pharmaceutical companies over the next decade, working both in the field and in house. This lasted until my health "crashed" with the MCTD and had to retire. So, I had the two degrees, (and eventually JD) and worked both in the law and in a medical field career...so, my dad had to admit later (with great good humor!) that my odd choice ACTUALLY was a smart choice and that I used my education well. (He actually admitted that though he initially thought my choice of doing the two totally "different" degress was "looney" then , that he'd had to "eat crow" as I not only USED them, but made good buck and had done some very interesting things over the years...if you knew my dad, you'd have known it was a huge deal to admit this stuff! But, he did! )AT any rate...this is why I urge ANYBODY to just examine what you are good at and what makes you "turn on". When I chose to do what I did, women did NOT do degrees in those areas very much and the kinds of jobs I eventually did have were "new" career areas, so I was seen as an oddball and lots of folks just didn't understand what the heck I was trying to DO. There NOW are many new things happening, especially via technology in so many ways, so my opinion is that even if it looks a bit odd to outsiders, if you are following that inner compass and the inner drive and just GO for it, you'll do just fine in life. It's a BIG world and we need ALL sorts of folks doing ALL sorts of stuff!
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| DairyQueen2049 | Mar 13 2008, 10:28 AM Post #33 |
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DRAGON BREATH. DRAGGIN' BUTT
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My humble apologies Robin. I think in my not-so-subtle humor I somehow made a bad joke and upset you. I did not mean too, I was responding to TDD's original post that she did not like school. I am certainly NOT esteemed! Open mouth insert foot. I apologize again. I'll reread my post better next time. 3bays - your answer and links!!! WOWOW!!!!! Nice!!!!!
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| FlashGordon | Mar 13 2008, 10:40 AM Post #34 |
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You're BANNED!
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My husband came to the US from the UK through this program: http://www.bunac.org/ My sister just used the same program to spend some time working and living in Scotland. They hook you up with the visas, help you find a job and living situations. It is an amazing way to see the world. I have friends who have literally traveled the globe through Bunac... working in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Africa.... Maybe something to consider.
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| Trialbyfire | Mar 13 2008, 10:56 AM Post #35 |
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You're BANNED!
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All good advice so far. And part of it suggests that there are many ways to find your career! I think it would be hard to talk anyone out of a college degree, any degree, in this day and age. It's generally something that is expected to move up in nearly any field. Once you do have a "normal" full-time job it is very hard to find the time to go back and get a degree....but if you don't have one you may be stuck in your career path without an opportunity to move up. I personally would recommend getting a two-year degree in something - business, english, marketing - for example, and then seeing what you think. Use the advisors at your college to get ideas as to what to do next and where to go. I don't think you'll regret doing this when you're young and have the time; even if it doesn't sound like the wowsa career of your dreams. I got a BS in Economics and Psychology at a liberal arts school. Graduated with honors and promptly got a job paying $16,000 per year. Why did I bother with school, anyway?? But in 1991 even jobs paying only $16K required a bachelor's degree, and before long I had a job that paid a little bit more but offered 100% tuition reimbursement and I got my master's degree PT for nearly nothing. And then I got my first *real* job, and continued to advance in a career path from there. So, the first thing you do might not be your calling, but it's a start in the rigth direction. I think the path of your career follows the doors that you open for it. You might not know where it will end up, but you are in control of it's direction.
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| TatteredDaydreamer | Mar 13 2008, 04:43 PM Post #36 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Again, thank you to everyone who has suggested things. I feel much less...panic attacky...now. I just need to breathe....and start taking the baby steps. |
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| Fenway | Mar 13 2008, 04:48 PM Post #37 |
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Guiding your way to Candy Mountain, since 1873.
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| mareseatoats | Mar 13 2008, 05:32 PM Post #38 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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Tattered, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was your age. I had no idea what I wanted to do ever, until this past summer when I finally had the time to review my life. I sooo wish there had been decent advisors back when I was in high school. Odds are you're not going to be able to do *anything* that pays without at least a college degree. Were there any subjects in high school that you did well in, without even trying? Any "easy A subjects?" for you. If so, I'd start there. It won't get any easier as you get older, and life will throw plenty of challenges. Forget planning for a life as a traveling musician; that's akin to planning your finances around winning the lottery. But, if you love music and are truly gifted at it -- top-notch technique with one or more instruments, strong sight reading, very good relative pitch, theory, history, composing, etc. -- then teaching music is a possibility. (That way you'll still be buying the performance lottery ticket, but not be betting your life on winning!). Whatever you end up doing, success is going to take sustained work. Even rock stars work hard at what they do. The glamorous life "on the road" really isn't so much fun as exhausting and lonely. |
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| Robin | Mar 13 2008, 05:56 PM Post #39 |
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We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
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I talked to someone today who had made an interesting career for herself. She started out working as an assistant in an insurance office (boring, yes, low-pay too) but then moved on to get her own insurance certification. Then she worked in an agency for some time. Then she set up in private practice in my region. She specializes in selling farm owner and home and business insurance to HORSE OWNERS. She gets to spend her days talking to folks who own horses and want insurance for their farm, stable, riding club or just on their horse. She gets to go to tack swaps, expos, saddle clubs, etc and it is all part of her business. Even gets to smooze at horse shows where she competes. Since she has moved into an area which is now becoming increasingly horsey and there are no other agencies specializing in horse related insurance here, she has a great business opportunity. And all her horse knowledge is relevant. Oh, DQ, I am not distressed by your comment about PhDs. I mostly wanted to let Tat know that I am very far out on the tail of the bell curve and (as it proved) might not be giving relevant advice. |
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| TatteredDaydreamer | Mar 13 2008, 08:22 PM Post #40 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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Mares, believe me, I know that the tour lifestyle is lonely and takes it's toll. Some of my very good friends were out for over two years, over 300 shows, and it changed them for the worse....took them months to decompress. I'm not even suggesting I want to do that. |
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| MayaTy02 | Mar 14 2008, 07:30 AM Post #41 |
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You're BANNED!
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I think if you sit down and say, "what do I want to do", you're doing yourself a disservice because you dont know enough about what's out there to even have an idea! So I'd suggest going back to school, even if it's just a local community school, do some internships and see where it takes out. I went to a liberal arts college (sames as trial by fire) and graduated with a BA in Government (HUH?)....why? because I was very interested in how certain people gain influence over large masses of other people (i.e. Hitler, Stalin, Mao etc). I liked my government and political theory classes so that's what I kept taking. I also took alot of art history classes (so you can see I had no idea what I intended to do with my life). Ended up getting an internship between my junior and senior years at a local corporation working in the human resources department basically doing filing and scheduling appts. I LOVED it, still don't know why. But thats when I felt I knew what i wanted to do. Graduated into one of the worst job markets in awhile so I worked ft in retail (making $15K back in 1991) until I got my foot in the door at a company as the receptionsit/HR assistant. The rest is history and I'm still in the field and convinced that it's a good fit for me (most days). Morale of the story: it's perfectly alright to not know what you want to do, but get yourself out there and give yourself opportunities to learn and see what you might want to do. The best way to get into a company is with a degree and the best way to see what you might want to do in the corporate world is by internships. |
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| Trixie | Mar 14 2008, 08:53 AM Post #42 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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I second that internships can be extremely useful. When I was in high school I decided I wanted to work for a newspaper. I called every paper in the city, one of the publishers thought my phone message was cute and hired me on the spot. Got a press pass and an opportunity. No cash at the beginning, but made a niche for myself working part time. Was hired full time later, taught myself Quark and was the Photo Editor by the time I left. I was able to parlay working for the paper into getting into a better college than I otherwise would've, and better jobs in the future then I otherwise would've. I also made a lot of very useful contacts. If you can live without income it can be extremely useful. If you can't, try interning once a week or something. |
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| 3Bays | Mar 14 2008, 09:19 AM Post #43 |
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You're BANNED!
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I "third" the internship idea...great way to test things out, learn new skills and meet folks who may be great connections later on! If you get a chance to do something like that (even if it's just one day a week), you might want to consider it. And, just in general... Great advice everyone!
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| mareseatoats | Mar 14 2008, 09:41 AM Post #44 |
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Thomas H. Cruise!
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I'll 4th MayaTy -- you can't possibly know what you want to do when you don't know what's out there! Internships seem like a good way. Another possibility is Vista or Peace Corps...although you may need a degree in something for those. I wasn't sure about the music thing, but since you brought the subject up, figured I'd better throw in my 2 cents on the subject. I *do* know people who have made very satisfying lives for themselves teaching, with performance on the side. In some cases, the performing took off and eclipsed the teaching. In other cases, the opposite. So maybe some travel -- my voice teacher performed mostly locally, but her teacher was a classical/jazz crossover and sang worldwide. She taught classical at Wellesley, soloed with national orchestras such as BSO and with a local jazz group, and then spent her summers hanging in Europe singing jazz. |
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At least not the ones I'd want to go to - and they aren't even top tier. And the idea of coming out of school 90k in debt is very daunting. I could also see myself teaching, in nursing, or doing social work of some sort (notice the minimal office/lots of people interaction theme?) but again thats another 2-3 years of school so I SO know where you're coming from. And I would love to have a sales barn but don't ever want to be at a point where I don't look forward to going ot the barn.




, that he'd had to "eat crow" as I not only USED them, but made good buck and had done some very interesting things over the years...if you knew my dad, you'd have known it was a huge deal to admit this stuff! But, he did!
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12:29 PM Jul 11