Chosen Career
 

I was asking myself the other day how do the younger generation choose their professions nowadays. Some take years to finish college and have more than one degree and still cant find gainful employment.
When I was younger I knew I wanted to be a nurse. I always gravitated toward Science and healing. So I wonder with current board members, how did you become what you are? Are you doing something you always wanted to do or did you change in midstream and are now doing something you never thought you would be doing?

All my schooling life I either wanted to be a nurse or a teacher. I settled for teacher after having a difficult time in a chemistry class. I retired from teaching 9 years ago.

I first became a teacher because that's what my parents expected of me. According to all my performance reviews, I was a good teacher, but my heart was never in it. Because my DH and I moved frequently early in his career, I took a tax class so that I knew how to handle all the moves, house sales, etc. for tax purposes. That led to working for a tax firm, and then a CPA firm. I took enough classes to sit for the CPA exam. I was 43 when I started working as an accountant for a large financial services firm. I loved it! I wish I had started in accounting, but I went to a small rural high school and didn't even know what an accountant was. The girls in my high school graduating class either married, or became secretaries, nurses, or teachers.

It seems a lot of them find the work they love the same way quilt1950 did... not by planning but a little bit by accident. My daughter started off teaching and now works for Allstate as a wholesale agent for the western half of Tenn. My son loved to play his guitar, so he went to music college and got a degree as a music minister... and worked as worship leader in a big church. He loved to dabble in video and editing so he soon became the head of videography in the church, as that need was greater. Now he has his own film company and does things for HBO, Oprah Winfrey and many other big muckety mucks. He certainly never knew he would go in that direction as a teenager. Youngest son always loved virtual flight games on the computer, and he went to school for flying and became a pilot. He also studied drone flight while in school, and ended up in Jordan, mapping with drones for the military. You never know where life will lead you.

what a beautiful cat!!!!

i fell thru the cracks at my high school. no guidance in professions at my school for me.
i wanted to be a sewing teacher, but my parents did not encourage me to go to college at all.

I have loved math since I was in 8th grade. In high school I had some math teachers who encouraged me to think about teaching math. I went to the only college I applied to and was hired right out of college to teach. 2 1/2 years ago I retired after 38 years in the same building. Since then I have been teaching a couple of classes at a college in town along with costuming at the local high school.

I wanted to be a veterinarian. I was always rescuing little birds and animals. I ended up going into nursing and loved it. I worked from 1981 until 2013.

Before graduating HS, My mother recommended I find employment with a public utility for the retirement and benefits; however, I wanted to be a psychologist. Instead, I followed her lead and worked for the phone company then water company for 35 years. Before retiring in 2011, I returned to school and earned my BS and MS in Counseling psychology. Post retirement career is licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in trauma counseling. I don't need the money because my mom was right, but I work with veterans and adult survivors of childhood abuse and LOVE my work. I only work a couple of days a week and quilt the other days. Best of both worlds...

Lynnie....so many kids fell thru the cracks when I went to school too.... I'm not sure it's much better today for youth.

I always wanted to be a bookkeeper or accountant. That is what I did in my career at the Phone Company and also a Computer Company for 21 yrs. I also had my own tax business and accounting business for 8 years after that. So I guess I did what I wanted to do.

I went to a small high school, and most girls took the office route. I started in a secretarial pool of a tire and automotive wholesaler. Worked my way to advertising, and then sales. Did that for 14 years. Stayed home with the kids for 4 years, then decided I wanted a "fun" job. Retail sounded fun, so was a store manager for 20 years...retired when I realized I wasn't having fun anymore!

When I was in school I wanted to work for a newspaper but didn't want to be a reporter. (Watergate was happening and Pentagon Papers and I did not want to do the hardcore type of reporting.) My sister worked for a small town paper in Kansas - she was the social page reporter and got fed up with being called about who was visiting who - so became a photographer. Then found out that position also double for the police photographer and she didn't like doing a lot of those. When I went to work as a file clerk for an insurance agency and made more money than she did - I decided maybe insurance was a better choice for me. My immediate supervisor thought I was better suited to handle claims than filing or personal lines insurance. He was right - I was good at helping people with their crisis. After 10 years of handling multi-lines of insurance claims I specialized in handling Workers' Compensation claim. Did that for another 25 years. I did that until it turned out to be more of a keep-away game instead of a benefit delivery system.
I enjoyed working with the programmers developing the computer programs - it kept me sane the last 2 years I was in the business.
My eldest DD knew from first grade she wanted to be a teacher - and she is - she is very good at what she does.
My youngest had no idea what she wanted to do - so started out going to a community college and got a general AA degree. She was working at Balboa Naval Hospital and several doctors told her she had such a good rapport with the patients she should consider social work. So she continued her education and became a social worker working with trouble teenagers. She now counsels kids about to graduate - she has been working with them for about 10 years now and still enjoys the work.

I came from a troubled family. The home economics teacher took me under her wing and encouraged me to believe that I could get an education and escape the problems of home. I became a home economics teacher and taught for seven years before getting married. My husband was subject to transfer at any time; since teachers worked under contract I couldn't envision my staying behind when he was transferred, I stopped teaching and became an at-home mom. I loved being home with our sons. Later, I opened a home based business and made window treatments and my husband installed them. Through college I worked in the insurance business during summers and other break times. During the school year I worked at various jobs with the college to pay expenses. I became a church secretary for ten years when we moved back to Colorado. I really liked all of the jobs I have had over the years. We encouraged our sons to get good educations. I do think kids today have a harder time choosing careers because contemporary job descriptions are so much harder to describe. One son is a software designer. Another is a landscape designer and travels the world designing water parks. A third son is a certified financial planner. None followed in our footsteps but all are happy in their careers.

What an interesting thread. I learned so much about each one that posted, all very accomplished lives.

I said I wanted to be a veterinarian, but my folks wanted me to marry one. In 1964-5 school year I was in Pre-vet, as anyone could take those classes. But when it came time to apply to vet school, Ha Ha. They took 53 students and the allotment was 50 men and 3 women. I knew the three women, one was rich, one was beautiful and the last one was very smart and my study partner.

Realizing that I was never going to get in with my grades and so many other qualified applicants, I wandered out the Vet school door and came to the entomology building. Of course they would take me, they only had 2 other girls. So I am an entomologist specializing in honeybees, and suddenly became hypersensitive to them. End of career.

At a local fair, I won a class at a Jr. College and took weaving. Became a weaver of rag rugs and in national magazines and newspapers. Burnt out my wrists after 15 years. Bought a pizza parlor and did well for the first time in my life. Sold that and retired ?? 3 years ago but still have the laundromat that was next door to the pizza place.

If I were to do it over I would join the Navy right out of college.

Marcia

From as early as I can remember I wanted to be a nurse and I loved it. I almost wished I went to medical school. I never thought I could but 4 years of nursing school made me realize I could probably have achieved it. I wanted to be a Psych nurse but changed once I got out of school and ended up in Cardiology. Psychology has always fascinated me but you use it all the time, no matter what is wrong with the patient.
However, looking back I think I would have loved teaching. I almost went for my Master's to teach nursing but changed my mind.
There is such burnout in nursing, as many of you know.
Also looking back I would have loved to become an English teacher.

I read somewhere that most people will wear at least 7 different career caps in a lifetime...interesting how one career sometimes leads one to another, I think it also has to do with right-brain or left-brain dominance...I myself, altho in high school carried a 4. Average, member of national honor society( does that still exist?) did not have any desire to continue in academia - found a good job in an office, diverse enough to be interesting...then boyfriend, later dh, suggested trying cosmetology- he being a barber, then......so I did, part-time while working in the office....changed to working in a salon after finishing course...then married, had children, was able to "work-hair, while children in school, moved to another city..reverted back to office work. Administrative assistant (fancy name for secretary)in academia (school for "gifted students") retired from there- after 10 yrs-couldn't take the politics of it anymore!, then found quilting-purchased longarm and did client-work, took up much of my time, not enough energy to do my own sewing, quilting, so after about 12 yrs stopped. Now, trying to catch up with all those UFOs I have accumulated. But always find myself doing handwork hobbies in spare time....my therapy, I guess...btw, dh also changed from barber to insurance agent, to financial planner...so, yes, many career caps in my life so far...what's around the corner, I wonder!

When I graduated from high school I was the first in my family to attend college. I was going to be a physical education teacher. However, for many reasons I left after two years. Needed to earn a living so I went to night school to learn short hand. Found a job while going to night school and before I finished night school I had a job as a private secretary. I loved being a secretary. Married and moved to various cities and was able to work as a secretary for temp organizations. When my husband took a permanent job I became a secretary for a major company. Loved my job and left when we adopted our first child. Stayed home for many years and loved it. Spent hours making cloths for my family. To sharpen my skills I took a night typing course at the local high school. One day I saw an ad in our local paper about a part time job. Applied for it and found out it was the same company I had worked for before my marriage but the company had changed its name. Worked there for a few months and became head of their steno pool. Then an opportunity came to work as a temp for the company I had worked for before I left the work force. Worked as a temp for several years and then became a permanent employee in technical publications. Work at the job for thirteen years and LOVED it. Do your best all the time wheather you like what you are doing or not. Experience is never a waste of your time. Do you best every day in every thing that you do. Never at age 17 would I have dreamed of ending up where I did at 62. For the past 20 years I put my sewing skills learned as a stay-at-home mother to quilting and am enjoying my retirement.

Kids have more choices today. Also, when we went to college we took basic courses the first two years which applied to all majors. When my youngest went to college, her school scheduled her for courses in her major and not basic course. I called the college and said, NO WAY. Give her the basic so that if she changes her mind after a semester or two she will not lose those credits. After the first semester she changed her major and would have lost the credits for the whole first semester.

My oldest daughter was a Psychology major. Worked for a couple of years in elder care and drug rehab and burned out. Went back for her masters in education and has been an outstanding teacher. Fifty years ago a 4 year degree was all one needed to get a good job. (The generation before all that was needed was a two year degree for teaching.) Now the kids need the four year degree and then go on to get a masters degree in a more defined area. Here in New York State teachers need a masters degree five years after college graduation or you are no longer able to teach.

I worked at the phone company. Then married and had children. Loved being a stay at home wife and mom. But apparently, my then husband did not ! lol I scrambled and worked many part time jobs and just fell into a bookkeeping job. Loved it ! After many years of doing that, i ran across my parents marriage license, On that document, it said my dad was an accountant and my mother was a bookkeeper. So I guess it was just in my blood !

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be. lol I'm retired but spent 20 years with a major computer company as a Logistics Coordinator and Materials Analyst. It was a good job and paid well so I never tried anything else. My DD on the other hand knew from the time she was in junior high she wanted to be a nurse. She had some challenges along the way but got her RN degree and now runs a home health agency and does very well. I'm very proud of her.

Loved science so got a degree with dual major in biology and zoology and was working minimum wage in retail because I couldn't find a job in field so ended up going back to school to get a vet tech license so now I am a vet tech at an animal shelter but definitely not what I thought I was going to be doing

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.

When I was in high school in the late 60's I decided I wanted to be a secretary. But one of my instructors unknowingly turned me off that idea. She made a comment about the main focus of being a secretary was to "make your boss look good". I didn't like that idea. I wanted a career that I could have my own purpose to the company I worked for. I was always good at math so took accounting classes and loved it! I never got a degree but worked as a bookkeeper/accountant for 45 years until I retired 3 years ago.

Well, Lynnie, you would have been terrific as a sewing teacher, but you certainly are an inspiration to us here on the board. Keep up the good work.

When I was a young girl and did well in science and math, my 4th grade teacher said, "You don't have to be just a housewife, you can be a nurse, teacher or executive secretary." My brother, with similar scores, was told, "You can be a doctor, lawyer or engineer." I don't know whether times have changed for the better for women in every way, but I do think girls have more opportunities than they once had.

I hated high school. I didn't want to go on. I was an honor student but I hated it. I married at 18 and had 3 kids by 24. I was a stay at home mom and loved it. Marriage fell apart and I went to work at the local radio station. Remarried and had 3 more kids. I have had a lot of different jobs in my life. Each job was a step up and a pay raise. I am now head seamstress at a large bridal shop and I love it. I have been there many years and it never gets boring. Kids are all grown and 5 of them are college graduates. Three own their own business. Sometimes I think kids are pushed too hard to go to college. White collar jobs are great but we need blue collar workers too. I think if you know what you love to do and figure out a way to get paid for it...you will never 'work' a day in your life.

Love this story.... And love your final comment. Right on!

i'm in awe of you!! Amazing perseverance in the face of adversity. High five!

When I went to college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. With the help of a remarkable advisor (at Ohio State, a massive school where I never expected to experience such individualized attention and encouragement,) I got a dual degree. I subsequently received two graduate degrees, including a J.D. Sometimes things work out in the most unexpected ways.

I wanted to be a geologist and enjoyed talking with the field geologist at the refinery where my father worked. However, in college in 1960, geology classes were strictly male. Best I could do was teach Geology in the Science Dept. My parents considered teaching the lowest of the low and wanted me to be a beautician or secretary or nurse. Teaching at college level was good in pay and benefits and I really enjoyed it. They said I "worked" not "taught". When I told my female students about the discrimination, they were appaled. That would not happen today, but back then was a different time.

Good for you!