Advise on what I want to be.......please!!

[Rosabelle]

ok.........this has nothing to do with paganism or any religion for that matter, but I need some advise.
I have been thinking about what i might want to do when i'm onder (job wise). I know i'm only 14 (nearly 15) but at school we are asked all the time what we want to be. for ages i have had no idea, but ireally want to have something to aim for. At first i thought something to do with music, then i thought about astronemy because i love looking at the stars,then i thought about sound recording and recently i have thought about being a doctor.
does anyone have any tips on how i can find the right job for me :) which might include all the interests i have.
I really really want something to aim for and i think a target will help me study harder. thanks for your time :)
Rosabelle

[Yvonne Belisle]

I personally would research each one. Learn as much as you can try to talk to people in each field. Contact a few schools and learn what the class requirements are. Then when you have all the information including how open those fields are so you know you can work in them meditate on them. See yourself as each in turn and think of how you feel. That may help to cut down on what you are trying to choose between. Remember you can always minor in your second choice. You may also be able to work a little in the fields if you ask people. My 11, 10 and 9 year olds will often work for a buisness by taking out the trash sweeping up ect.. it gives them an oportunity to see how those businesses run. You may not be able to do that with the medical field due to safty issues but the other two you may depending on availability where you live. Talking to the people that teach in those fields can also give you a lot of incite. Good luck. Keep us up on how things go maybe some of us can help you if you want to research.

[mol]

There are also placement exams which are pretty nice...they cant tell you what you really want to do...but might point you in the right direction.

[Dextra]

Heh, I'm nearly 24 and STILL have no idea what I want to be when I grow up! But seriously, since nobody else has suggested it yet, you might want to look at some of the online job search sites, like monster.com. You might not find the exact job you're looking for, but you'll get lots of ideas!;)

[Amy]

Hello Rosabelle! If I remember correctly, there's a skills assessment test called the ASVAB that highschools often offer. It's administered by people recruiting for the Army...note: you don't have to join to take it...but I've heard that it can give you a pretty good idea of where your strong points are. I also suggest talking to your school academic counselor... he/she might be able to lead you in a good direction.
Good luck and best wishes,
Amy

[bluecat]

Amy's suggestion was right on the mark. And I am sure that there are other skill inventories you can take to help you. The important thing is to follow what you would enjoy and keep it realistic. You know keep grounded :D .

All of the things you mentioned sound pretty good but they are also fairly different. Use a little time to read and find out what you need to study that way you won't pick something you didn't really want.

I know this sounds ambiguous and general, but you still have some time.

Whatever it is you choose go out there and knock 'em right out of their socks!



BlueCat

[Twig]

Rosabelle my young sister,I know how you feel. I STILL remember being that age. [belive it or not]

My first advice would be to ask your school counselor if they have any career aptitude tests. These give you an idea of what you [might] be best suited to do. BUT, these are general tests.

If you are like most people you will change your mind time and again before you graduate. To be safe, continue your math,science, computer and english classes [the "core" classes] as these will be neccisary for college entrance tests, etc.

And don't even THINKabout dropping out of school. Take it from one who did, I tottally regret it. It took me 3 years to realise my mistake, and another 6 to catch up with other people and get my degrees.

My young Sister and all other teenagers who see this, take it from a 43 yr. old who learned the very hard way. PLEASE STAY IN SCHOOL!!! When you make your millions, you can think back and say "Thanks Twig,you were right".
Peace,
Twig
:elf:

[Dragonmother]

Heh heh...
Twig has some very good advice for you when he says to keep up with your core classes. NO matter what jobs your life gives you, you will use these things. Yes, even Trigonometry. In fact, the thre ideas you had there, all need advanced Math skills. And be great in Language skills, too. (I don't mean French or Spanish, but if you speak a second language that will be a great help to you also) But communication is so unbelievably important to any career you choose.
Like Twig, I am an old lady- 44 years old. I didn't drop out- almost did- but I didn't go on to get a degree, either. What I love doing is "making stuff" as I call it. I design and make toys, for kids and grownups. Dolls and Wands, and Athames. But To be able to support my family, I need a part time job that won't use my brain and body up so that I can come home and make stuff. I should be managing an office, but I don't have a BA or anyother kind of degree to make the hirers feel comfortable.
You know, it almost doesn't matter what kind of a degree you get. Well, it does, but that horrible woman Dr Laura is a doctor in something like horticulture- nothing to do with human psychology. It certainly doesn't seem to bother her fans!
BTW, would you like to meet my daughter? She is pagan, and 12 years old.

[sherry]

Rosabelle,
I can honestly say to take your time in picking out what you want to be. It can seem at times like your never going to get what you want. But take it from me It Happens.
I became a Nurse out of a request from my parents!!
This is nothing I regret on payday but as for the rest of the time I'd rather be a chef!! Its a happy rewarding job.
You see with my experience as a nurse I now work for an agency, A TEMP. This gives me the freedom of working less days a week go back to school, this time for what I wanted. I took bus. managment, cake decorating, floral arrangement, and finally they one that made me proud it is a course that earned me Wedding Specialist title for my name. This is truely the business I wanted and it only took 20 years to get there!!
I am sure at your age this seems like FOREVER but believe me right now it did not feel that long because i have learned along the way how to deal with people.
The age thing is a plus also because at 18 who would have trusted me to handle their daughters wedding. And the nurse thing is my added edge over other caterers because I have an understanding of special diets and have the ability to plan a small childs party so that they are not appearing different from the other kids at the party. This makes my parties different from what others offer and then good news spreads and my business grows.
You see, if I had jumped right into what I wanted, I might never have known this. So take your time and follow your heart. Destiny Happens when you least expect it!!!!

[richardcranium]

I don't have any real career suggestions but I will say this, do what you want when you get older but never grow up. The more society makes me grow up the more I don't want to grow up. It's not that bad being a grown up, but I wish I could be young forever!

[Ayla]

Although it seems really urgent because everyone's bugging you about it, take your own time to decide. It's far worse to decide too early and end up stuck in a career you don't like. Are you considering A'levels and/or university? If so just try and pick subjects you're interested in, subjects you think will hold your interest so that you get good grades.
I didn't decide on my career until I was into my twenties and am still sucessful in it, I don't believe I've suffered any drawbacks from waiting until I decided.

Take it easy and just make sure that you pick subjects and/or work that you enjoy, you can always change your mind later.

Love & Hugs,
http://ayla.brinkster.net/ayla/images/signatureT.gif

[Tigerwallah]

Rosabell, Monster.com has many tests for just this kind of thing. There are a few that assess your skills and interests and gives you a list of possible careers with an assesment on each. It is very interesting and helpful. I'm 33, and have only recently been able to narrow the field. One of these tests said I should be an actor or director. This is funny, because both of my parents are actors. Weird!!!

[Dragonmother]

Are you ready... A Nature film maker! You know, like the Crocodile guy, and Nigel Thornberry...
Okay, I'm done being silly.
Richardcranium, don't worry. Boys grow up about ten years later than girls, speaking generally, so you've got time ahead of you. All the same, I know exactly what you mean. At 44 years old, big pieces of me are still 17. And right now, those pieces are floundering around, wondering where everything went. But there is a time and season for everything, and I expect to become seventeen once again...
Try to do SOME growing up, though. you have to take care of yourself, and possibly you will have to take care of a family.

[Amora]

I'm 25 and just recently found what I want to do but it took maturing (to a certain extent!) and reaching a level of self confidence. Personally this happened for me when I got so fed up with my job that I left it with nothing else lined up. I decided to try a temp agency where I could "try on" a few different positions with little commitment. I ended up working at the agency in sort of an HR position, which I absolutely love. Happiness on the job gave me the confidence to study the metaphysical in a school setting because I've always wanted to expand my psychic abilities. Now I'm finally confident to do what I love - reading tarot cards and doing a few psychic readings here and there. I will eventually go on to own my own store and do this professionally.

Hang in there if you can and know that most people much older then you are still looking and you're probably going to change your mind a few dozen times even after you think you've figured it out!!!

[Mariposa De La Luna]

IMHO, take everyones' advice filter it into what you need and shelve some for later. Its no crime to change your mind.
My advise for you is to seek internships, you may not be able to untill you're 16 but make it known to your councelers now and get friendly with them because they are the ones you normally have to go to for that kind of thing and scholarships. For the medical field try volunteering. Also your first 2 years of college are basic courses needed for most degrees so you still have all that time to figure it out. Not only that but I doubt your friends/classmates will be what they say they want to be now. I knew this incredibly intelligent guy, we went to an engineering program type high school and he literally had a room full of academic trophies, it turned out he became an actor, not an engineer. Life's funny that way. :)

[Dragonmother]

I think Sahm's advice is the best yet!

[Tigerwallah]

That would be the perfect career for me. I'm almost as crazy as Steve Irwin (the Croc Hunter). Instead of antagonizing deadly reptiles, maybe I could annoy carnivorous cats and get it all on tape. :D

[Litha]

When I was 14, I was interested in what most teen girls are interested in, having a a part time job, some pocket money and fun clothes to wear. So I got a job in a clothes store. I worked in different clothes stores during high school and worked full time as a store manager while I attended college to pursue my political science degree.
It was fun work, and for that time a place where my head was at, it was a good job for me. Once out of school I got a fab job at the state capitol and worked my tailbone off! After a while the seamyness of the poitical arena left me looking to change the world one person at a time, rather than with the creation of laws.
You can always go back to school or learn to do something else. I went back to get my nursing degree 5 years after.
Your chosen profession will alter as you do. If you're lucky you can find work that will allow for change.
Being an nurse, I had the opportunity to work 20-80 hours a week if I liked, in the morning, afternoon, evening or night shift. It's nice to have that much income when you have your youth. Perhaps I should have saved or invested it in stocks (: but I decided to invest in in myself and in life.
The money went to traveling to Jamaica, Hawaii, the Caymans, St.Thomas, St. Martine, Mexico and south east asia.
Just make sure what the job entails and that you are up to it. Some people want to sit at a desk all day. Some people want an outdoors job. Some people want to work with computers and high tech stuff.
As an ER nurse I've found you can work, make good money, have time for a family and fun pursuits, but working on your feet all day in high level stress is not for everyone.
Now that I'm administrator you'd think I'd be less on my feet! Ah well some days I'm running laps around the place although we do get those weekend where I can work on my research while the medical center just hums along nicely.
they say the average person will have at least 5 professions before retirement, so don't sweat the small stuff. I'm on my 4th already! Find out what you're good at with a skills assemesment. A few good suggstions on where to find one have been mentioned already or see your school counselor who might have one as well.
Then have a look at the specifics of each job and how it interests you. Do what you love.