interesting thread! I was a good student in HS and parents encouraged us to go to college(my Dad was 1st in his family to go on the GI Bill, my Mom dropped out to marry but returned in late 40's and became an accountant). I went not having a clue what I'd major in--picked Anthropology and History because I liked both although neither very good for a career! After working as secretary for year for a non-profit, I returned (this time I paid for everything so worked 35 hrs a week on campus and took 18 hrs of classes)and got a degree in education to teach at secondary level. Couldn't immediately find a teaching job (1976) so went back to the non-profit, then worked for the state in social services. Taught for 7 years while working on my counseling degree and eventually became a school counselor for 27 yrs. MUCH different occupation that what I remember from my own HS counselor! Taught many classes on career exploration, vocational prep, etc. Retired 4 yrs ago and now, besides long arm quilting, I started teaching water wellness classes at local hospital rehab pool this summer.
What I would have choosen for myself in high school would have been going into construction with my Dad--but at the time he let me know that it really wasn't a field for women.
My daughter was very driven and on-target--went to college knowing she was either going into social services or journalism. I told her to take intro classes in both while getting the general requirements taken care of--she ruled out journalism. Told her if she planned to work in social services she must have initials behind her name to make a living wage--she's now a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with Clinical Supervisory and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy certifications. She likes it but it's a high stress job that leads to burn-out.
My son always knew he wanted to work with cars--he's intellectually gifted but hated the paperwork of school--so after floundering in a hard to get into college in auto restoration (too much fun) he came home and went to local community college and got auto tech certification. Worked in automotive field for 6 yrs and decided that $$ was too iffy (weird payscales with spiff pay, etc--like working for tips)and hard on bodies. So is into 2nd year of 3 yr apprenticeship program for low voltage (fiber optics) electrical work with IBEW. He's happy!