Full Careers

How did you choose which career to pursue? (Please answer, I need some honest guidance.)?

I ask because I'm a high school freshman about to choose both high school and college classes that will count for big time credits. I need some wisdom from an adult. I may not sound like it, but I'm getting really desperate. A high school freshman without a life plan is unheard of now-a-days. If it helps, my career will either be in arts or philosophy. How did you choose? Was it hard? How did you narrow it down? Anything helps. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. For the 'arts' part: Ask yourself "Do I like to DO the art or do I like to watch/critique/manage the art?" This will show you if you are an artist, or if you like the arts and want to show others about it. (Manage a museum/run an art gallery/be a movie maker, stuff like that) Also, ask yourself if you like to teach stuff to others. Are you always saying, "You know, I llike to do that this way." Or, "Why not try this. . ." Those things are marks of a teacher in the making. Or why not ask your parents? Or other relatives who know you and may have ideas about your future. . .those folk have life experience.
2. Set your goal on courses that are general but essential in any career. At your age it is almost impossible to know what you will want to spend your life doing. I was 31 years old before I really found what I wanted to do in life. I stuck with it and really enjoyed my working years to the fullest. You can always specialize at a later time but first you have to try different things to find out not only what you have an aptitude for,but what you really enjoy doing. If you study mathematics, the sciences, language etc. and get a good liberal arts background it will stand you in good stead in any career.Above all making a lot of money is not near as important as being able to go to work every day and be happy at your chosen profession.
3. I am really just starting a career myself at the age of 30. Yeah that's right thirty. actually I'm going to school to become an accountant, or a financial advisor. i started out after high school , in retail, did a little management, then joined the U.S. Navy. for 8 years. i really had no direction to go. but one thing i had done, it may be stupid, but i took those career matching things you see online sometimes, and a lot of them came up with the same answer; Finance or Accounting Field. The thing is I'm not good with math beyond basic. But my Professor says that accounting is really based on the method of sorting things, and I'm really good at that so i thought i would give it a try. so i suggest take a few test. also see if you can categorize your self, into traits you have that will match a job skill. for example, accountants are very analytical, and I'm pretty close to that.
4. Local colleges off fer vocational interest tests. You should take one./ Don't worry too much about your present major. Many students change their minds and her is nothing wrong with that.