So, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. I realize I'm a very logical person and I really think things through thoroughly before jumping into anything. Hence the reason I've not made a decision on this yet. Probably not many of you will find this interesting, it's not like I have a ton of readers on here (although a lot more readers than comment posters!). If anyone has any comments, please post them! I'm looking for insight, ANY and ALL is appreciated!
I'm not sure what I currently do for a living (accounting) is right for me. And when I say "right" I mean I don't think it's what will keep me happy the rest of my career. To really move ahead in the accounting world I need a masters. But I have absolutely zero desire to go back to school in accounting. That's a problem.
This has started me thinking about a career change. And now that Steve will be done with school and working fulltime next year I will have the chance to explore a career change if that's indeed what I decide I want.
There are a lot of things I enjoy doing. But do I enjoy them enough to consider it as a career? I'm not so sure. I like lots of things A LITTLE, but not many things A LOT. This was my trouble in college, trying to figure out what to major in. Actually, let's go back to when I was a kid. I always wanted to be one of those high powered career women like Michelle Pfeiffer in One Fine Day. How cool to have great ideas and have people look to you for your great decision making and how fun to wear great suits and heels. Or how about Helen Hunt in the Mad About You series (love her!). Or Miranda or Samantha in Sex and the City.
In high school I also thought it would be neat to be a nurse. So I job shadowed a nurse in the renal unit at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek for a few weeks. I really enjoyed it but didn't think I could handle the needles and blood. I've also found that although I may not seem like it, I am actually a very empathetic person. I really try to understand where others are coming from and care how they feel. Sometimes a little too much. I feel too much of their pain or anguish and it ends up bringing me down and I struggle to come to grips with how unfair life can be. Why do I have it so good when so many are suffering?
When I applied for college I stated my intended major as Geology (natural disasters facinated me, especially after experiencing the 1989 San Andreas fault earthquake at 9 years old). But it required too many math classes and anything past pre-calc I am no good at (Accounting is NOT math). I settled on a Business Finance major. I didn't enjoy Finance at all, but I figured it was a marketable degree I could use as a background for many careers.
In college (BYU), when a lot of the other girls talked about their major not mattering because they planned to get married and stay home with kids, I was thinking about marriage and kids too, but still wanted that career, always did. Then when I actually got married a year before graduating from college, I think I copped out. I wasn't enjoying Finance, but I decided it was easier to stick with it and figure things out later.
After a few months of marriage I decided maybe I wanted kids sooner rather than later (ah the peer pressure!). So I took some placeholder jobs thinking it would only be until we had kids and once they were grown I could figure out my career at that point. That meant I wouldn't have to think about it for a long time, and by then, surely I'd know what I wanted to be when I grew up, because I'd be grown up!
When it became clear it would be a while before kids may or may not come into the picture, I decided it was time to focus on me and what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. This lead to me finally choosing a position because i thought it would take me somewhere. And it did, I really very much enjoyed my work at that office. What I enjoyed most was working for a small not for profit that actually RAN as a NOT FOR PROFIT. I enjoyed having a lot of responsibility and freedom to do things my own way. And it felt good knowing we were making a difference.
Back in DC I also volunteered for the county helping people with their personal finances. We would sit with them and go over their situations and help them make budgets and follow through with them. I loved helping others with something I have a love for myself, personal finance. I've considered becoming a Financial Planner, but there's so much sales involved and we move around too much for me to form a customer base with every move. So I think that passion will have to continue to be fulfilled through volunteer work.
Lately i've been thinking about several career paths:
Teaching (secondary or junior college) - not the most glamorous or high paying but I do enjoy teaching subjects that I love (accounting, personal finance, life skills)
Psychology (especially cognitive) - not sure what actual career this would turn into but the way people think and work through things absolutely fascinates me! We're all so crazy!
Career Counselor - those who don't do, teach, right?! I enjoy helping others figure out what they want to do with their lives, and I have really enjoyed the interviewing and hiring process I've been a part of at past jobs. But Human Resources is not my thing, believe me, I have found this out working for an HR association right now, it's not my thing.
Occupational Therapist - this is a new career I'd never really heard of before the last few months. They "work with people with disabilities to enable them to maximize their skills and abilities. Occupational therapy gives people the "skills for the job of living" necessary for "living life to its fullest." I'm hoping to job shadow a therapist soon to see if it's something worth considering.
Nutritionist/Dietician - sounds interesting, haven't done much research on the job market yet, but I enjoy all things diet/health/exercise related.
This feels more like a journal entry than anything (not that I keep a journal!) but perhaps getting insight from friends and family will give Steve some peace for a little while. I admit, I talk to him about it way too much, the poor guy is so patient!
Perhaps all of this is just my way of looking around and then I'll end up justifying what I do for a living currently is what I enjoy and it's the particulars of the organization and position that are not a good fit right now. Either way, I need to do this for me!
So friends and family, HELP! Comments or emails are appreciated . . .
