Full Careers

Career path to choose?

Career path to choose? I am at a real crummy point in my life. I have graduated from college 2 years ago with a degree that I am not using. I have taken many personality, career tests on line and have found my strong points are in social work, but I feel that I have wasted my degree in a sense. I have a science background, but do not want to work in that field. I am debating between nursing, teaching, and counseling. My parents want me to be a teacher, but I'm not so sure. I've heard there are many rewards, but also draw backs to teaching. Help! What should I do? As a side note: I think nursing will be a great career path for me, but I do not want to work for the money. I was brought up in a home where there was a lack of money & I do not want to do nursing for the wrong reasons. What should I do? Should I go for the job with more opportunities (nursing)?

Public Comments

1. You should go for the job that you can 'live with' for the rest of your life. I became a psychologist because all of my 'friends' always came to me for psychological help ... and I was an excellent psychologist when I was 'in practice' and I still answer wearing that 'psychologist hat' here. You'll need to do a 'sit down' by yourself and 'take a long look' at each type of 'job' you think you might like to do, and be good at ... and you should think about YOURSELF IN TWENTY YEARS if you go into that field now. WHAT WILL YOU BE ABLE TO SAY ABOUT YOURSELF ... your 'happiness' and your 'lifestyle outside of work' ... and then YOU DECIDE FOR YOURSELF ... because it's YOU, not your parents, or your friends, or anyone else but YOU who is going to have to 'live' with your decision. And when you have made up your mind, make your 'announcement' in the postitive ... 'I am going to become a ..... because that's what I think I want to do with my life.' Then don't let anyone 'question' your decision ... not even 'one little bit' ...
2. You have mentioned so different professions like teaching and nursing, and also counseling. So, I think, you don't know enough about this professions, i.e. you should try to do some internship in one of this fields to make you choice. If you would work only a month (or two) like an assistant of teacher or nurse you can compose your own opinion about this work and also can make the useful links with people who work in this sphere.
3. I will have to agree with my other two collegues who have responded. I suggest that you try substitute teaching and apply for an emergency teaching license in your state and teach summer school if you can. Science teachers are in demand and can pretty much name their price. Secondly, you could alwyas volunteer at a hospital to see what it is like. I hope that you find something that you want to do with your life.
4. Nursing is a noble profession and the money is actually not that bad (it use to be but nurses are in such demand that there are actually signing bonuses. It also is a career where you can go anywhere in the world. Two other options that are slightly more study but also give you more power are the Nurse Practitioner and the Physician assistant. Both of these open up many doors. You could also go for an MSW in social Work with a focus in the Health arena. DA