When I first went into college I studied elementary education, mainly because my state offered scholarships for would-be teachers who would then stay and teach in the state. After college I got married and taught while my husband was in the Air Force and then when he went back to college. When he graduated, I stopped teaching. At the age of 35, when our children were 4 and 6, my husband died of a heart attack. I did not go back to work, until at the age of 42, I went to nursing school. I then worked as a psychiatric nurse until I retired.

I agree with you completely. I worked at several colleges and between knowing students there and within my personal life have seen most people start out with one major only to change at some point before graduation. I've also known many who never worked in the field they majored in at college. You need to be flexible more than anything.

When I was in High School I was a "c" student and did not have any aspirations to continue. When we were tested for manual dexterity at school for potential employment I scored high on the chart....so I was recommended to work in the local fruit packing sheds. They did not know that I was a very good piano player, thus my manual dexterity.

First job was a sewing factory, after 5 yrs got married, after 15 years of children and house work, took a job with non-profit running an immigrant program and ran that program for 10 years supervising 3 assistants. Managed a quilt store for 12 year before retiring 4 yrs ago.

So sometimes it is just chance meetings or who you know that help you get to in life, not being afraid to take a chance and having support from those around you. Acknowledge that you did not get there by yourself or at least in my case. For those that took a chance on me and who mentored me, for my family I am grateful.

My DD went to a 4 yr University and graduated with a degree in Kenisiology and secondary in Education..worked in school counseling, school admissions and worked up to Budget specialist for the school district. So her degree was only good to get her foot in the door.

Although, I was in honor classes during high school, I thought I wanted to be an MD, I eloped and took my 4 year scholarship and obtained my BSN in nursing. Was a trauma and open heart surgery nurse for 15 years then wanted to be a change agent in nursing practice so obtained my Masters and went into the ranks of nursing administration. In spare time, after graduation, became GIA certified in diamonds and sold jewelry on weekends. Then in 2005, graduated from law school ( brain exercise) and moved to California for hospital administrator position.
Regrets no, I have had so many experiences although I would have liked to have been an FBI profiler or Navy Seal. Lol

our Guidance Counselors were worthless...ours encouraged me to go to college. Period. No dialog on scholarships, etc. my folks did not have the $$ to send me to college. They did not go to college but they did not discourage us either but the bill would be ours. I had no clue on how to research opportunities. (1975) I paid my way thru community college while working full time. Worked 6 years ...for a 2 year associates. Completed my Bachelors at 36 thanks to tuition reimbursement from my employer.

Sandy

In high school, I fell in love with Drafting class. I took two classes a semester cause it was something I could understand.
Then I got pregnant at 16 and life changed. Dad told me one day that I would be a welfare mom the rest of my life.
To prove him wrong I started my own business at 17 and never looked back.

As a kid in the 50s I wanted to get married and have four kids. At 18, him 20 we got married. I was a stay at home Mom to three kids, I cleaned our home, grew a garden, canned food, froze food, sewed clothes, sewed doll clothes, made some quilts. I loved all that sort of stuff. I stayed home for 25 years, kids were 3-1/2 and 4 years a part. My husband started his own business, youngest ran away from home at almost 17 to do whatever she wanted. I went to work for my husband and learned to be a secretary. I started helping out with oldest Granddaughter. Good thing I didn't have four kids. I helped with her for 18 years, her Mom dropped her. She is very close to us. We just celebrated our 56th anniversary. I hated school and was never sorry I didn't get more education.

you go, girl!!

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!

As I sit here and read these replies I am in awe of all of you. Each one of you have made the world such a better place! We should all be proud of ourselves. A bit more about me: I got married at 16, had 4 kids all two years apart. My second baby died at 2 months from crib death. I was 19, it devastated me. Two more kids, then I figured out what was making that happen and that stopped. (Haha) Marriage was awful, well actually it was who I was married to, 8 years older than me, and I knew I had to support myself and the kids and find a way out. Went to classes at night at the grade school to get my GED and once I got that there was no stopping me. I drove old broken down cars, 120 miles a day round trip to go to community college to earn a degree in Respiratory Therapy which I did while taking classes to become a nurse. I had a Pell grant and couldnt believe that there was that kind of financial help and wanted to take advantage of it so I was doing 27 credits a quarter( had special permission) to learn all I could. I would get the kiddies in the tub at night after dinner, read to them before putting them to bed so I could study. Times were hard. Very hard. Never got child support or any help from family. I have ended up with my respiratory therapy, CRTT, plus my nursing degree then also I am certified operating room nurse, CNOR. When my youngest was 18 I married my now husband and he told me I didnt have to work anymore if I didnt want to. Life is good.