Deciding On A Profession

[StrawberryFields]

How did you decide what you were going to do in your life for a career?

This is the question the has me up this late/early......

[prisonchaplain]

I thought I was training to go back to Korea to serve fulltime as a campus missionary--most likely for the rest of my life. Half way through my schooling I read about a need for chaplains in the federal prison system. The Holy Spirit impresses me to "check it out." The rest was that gentle nudge turning into an irrestible directing. That was 1996. I'm coming up on my tenth full-time year, which was preceeded by two years as a volunteer.

[StrawberryFields]

While I was in High School I worked in retail at the mall and loved being around ppl. After High School I went to college in Fashion Merchandising. The school specialized in Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design and Fashion Design. My dream was to become a buyer for a large department store but that gave way to my hubbies wishes of being a stay at home mom.....

[onyx]

How did you decide what you were going to do in your life for a career?

This is the question the has me up this late/early......
[/b]

I was a bit confused about what I wanted to do when I was in high school.
So I graduated and went to teachers college.
Half way through that I deferred to serve a proselyting mission.
On my mission I was transferred to the welfare 'arm' of missionary service.
Found that I loved working with people's health and welfare.
Came home and subsequently studied in the natural therapies.
Been a private practitioner for 16 years now....looooove it!
BTW....the teachers college was not wasted....I now also lecture in the natural therapies.

I guess I was nudged in the right direction....like prison chaplain.

I have heard it said that it is not uncommon for a person to change their career path several times during their lifetime.

Onyx

[shanstress70]

While I was in High School I worked in retail at the mall and loved being around ppl. After High School I went to college in Fashion Merchandising. The school specialized in Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design and Fashion Design. My dream was to become a buyer for a large department store but that gave way to my hubbies wishes of being a stay at home mom.....
[/b]

So you're now thinking of going back to work, SF? That's exciting... it's pretty much open to you, huh? Go be a buyer for a dept store now if you still want to do that... never too late! You may need to take some classes now though to sharpen your knowledge.

[shanstress70]

Oh, I realized that I didn't answer the question. I got a degree in Geography with a minor in Biology, with the plans to go into Environmental Science. Not sure what I was going to do with it... those fields were just fascinating to me. In a lot of my geography classes (mostly the more technical GIS and mapping classes) I got some valuable computer experience. My first job out of college was GIS mapping for a private company. I did a lot of Quality Assurance there to make sure the maps that already existed were correct. I then moved on to a software trainer job for a software company that made E-911 dispatching software. Next, I got a job offer doing software QA that had nothing to do with mapping in the city my (then brand new) husband and I wanted to move to. I worked my way up to manage the dept, and I've been here for almost 9 years - love it.

I've never really sat down and thought about how it all progressed to where I am now... interesting to me, although I'm sure you are all asleep by now.

But yeah, I didn't really plan this career path for myself... it just kind of happened.

[Canuck Mormon]

If there's one thing I've learned over the past 4 years, it's that it's never too late to go back to school or change careers. I was a mechanic/service writer for 15 years after I finished high school. I started my own shop and 2 years later declared bankruptcy. I stayed in that profession for 2 more years than had the strong desire to go back to school. I'm now a draftsperson for a oil & gas engineering company. It's never too late to follow your dreams, just make sure they're in line with what HF has in store for you.

[Dr T]

From as long as I can remember I said, "I'm going to be a psychologist." I thought it was "getting paid to listen to people talk" and though-"that would be a great job." I never realized all that went into that or how much schooling was invovled and other roles of the job. The rest is history.

[StrawberryFields]

Yes, Shan I did get to sleep for 4 hours, hopefully that will be enough for today

I am thinking more on the line of my children who I feel I need to help direct a little. There is a lot more history into my career of choice and I will follow up on that in a bit. I do believe that what we do following high school does have some impact on where we end up...

I am trying to help Nick into a career with his limitations following his accident....

I am trying to help my daughter who has just finished high school and is not sure what she wants to do but I want her to follow her own path and not mine which wouldn't work either because we are so different in what we like.

Hearing some of you has been helpful. It helps me to see that careers happen as a process and not to be discouraged if it isn't 'right now'.

I love hearing how you all have made the progression.

[shanstress70]

Yes, Shan I did get to sleep for 4 hours, hopefully that will be enough for today

[/b]

No, I meant that you are all probably asleep after reading my rambling about how I got to my present career.