Well, my posting went way down this week because my MIL passed away and I was out on Long Island, away from my computer. Then, when I got back home, I really wasn't in the mood to post. These things happen, I guess.

It was just the last thing on my mind to do, since I had cancelled appointments, and basically was not on my PC at all. Next week, I will try and make up for it.

__________________
---------------------

http://barbarab2.wordpress.com/

I'm 21 years old and I'm exploring career options. It seems like all of my friends know where their talents lie and are already prepared for the real world. They all have dreams their hearts are set on and I feel so completely lost. My career interests range from film to working in an art gallery to translator to real estate agent to optometrist to even marine biologist. I can see myself doing all of those things but there's always SOMETHING that turns me away from that career. I know I probably sound over-dramatic but I feel lost and I'm worried that I'll never find my place. I'd like to make a decent living and college isn't an issue. I know all the best universities for each field of study but I have no idea what to do! I guess my question is... how did you finally discover what you were meant to do? How long did it take? And was it worth it? And if you could suggest something for me...

I'm not an outdoorsy person. I hate bugs. I'd rather not work in an office as cubicles tend to scare me. I don't mind a fast paced life but there's something about a simple, creative career that appeals to me. I'm really into psychology but research just isn't for me. I'm good in science, english, and foreign languages. I don't mind learning about other cultures and histories. I'm fluent in 3 languages. I'd like to live in Hawaii someday. I really hate math. If there's anything you can suggest, I'd be truly grateful. I just feel like I have no idea where my life is going and people tell me I'm too young but I can't help but think I'll get left behind and I want to have a handle on my life...............

I think you've already narrowed it down somewhat. Look at all the clues you've given here.

You might look into an internship for a short period of time, if you can afford to do that. This would give you a feel for what it would be like as a career. Since you say you are not an outdoors type of person, perhaps marine biologist or even real estate agent may not be for you. Your strongest skills seem to be in foreign languages, and you have some interest in other cultures and histories, so I would keep that in mind. That would be a nice combination for filmmaking travel shows. The great thing you have going for you is that you are young and have your whole life ahead of you. And in today's world, many people have more than one career in their lives. I wish you all the best.

__________________
---------------------

http://barbarab2.wordpress.com/

sajis

First, as an aside, you might want to reconsider using an email address as a name here. I suspect it will just become a spam magnet.

As to your primary question. I do have a little experience and training in the career development area and may be able to help a little.

Begin by relaxing and refocusing your questions. Over 90% of the young people who go off to college knowing for sure what they want to do with their lives, change their minds before graduating. The others didn't know in the first place. The options are many and mostly unknown to you now.

Most people work in several career fields with several jobs in each over time. You do not need to pay any attention to the thought that others are figuring out what they want to do better than you. For the most part they are not. They just don't realize it.

Focus on a broad education (that doesn't mean college necessary) in any or all areas that interest you. Go to work anywhere you want part time or full time. Attend college if you want. But keep learning and exploring. And keep open to changing jobs to something you like better as you learn and have opportunities to earn more.

Keep your mind open and be ready to go where you can enjoy life more. In other words, instead of thinking that you can't find yourself, think of yourself as enjoying the present and learning everyday how to live a more satisfying life as new and exciting opportunities open before you.

There is a piece of a song lyric that I like. It goes, "Whether you are six or sixty-six and still trying to figure out what you will be when you grow up...." Look at me. Here I am learning to do web sites. When I was your age the pocket calculator had not been thought of yet! In my college physics class we used slide rules to calculate. Now I've really dated myself. The point is, if you wait to enjoy what you are doing until you are doing what you want "someday," that day will never arrive. And if you think you have to know what your future holds before you begin the journey, you will never go anywhere.

__________________
Good Success!

Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

As usual, James, you give great advice. In my own life, the following is true:

My mother was poor and I had to leave school at 16 yrs of age. I worked as a stock clerk in a department store that no longer is around: A&S [Abraham & Strauss].

I took a small pay cut to get into a white-collar job at a non-profit company. There, I did filing, typing, got bonded (we opened envelopes that could contain checks or cash or even estate communications), and got used to an office environment.

During my time there, I got married, had a baby, and was home for the next couple of years taking care of my child.

The next job I took was because it was close to my home. I worked as a classified ad taker at a NJ newspaper. There, my typing skills became quite excellent. My next job was in NYC, at a typesetting company. Typesetting was my profession for many, many years. Still was, when I was forcefully retired in May 2009, except by then I had risen in management. The systems and software changed over the years, but it was my foundation. When I started [and when I finished] it was about coding and formatting, not about "desktop publishing" -- you had to hard code everything. That's what I liked about it.

This is all just to support what James said - it is never so pat or so cut and dried that you pick something when you are 21 and ride with it. Life would be terribly boring, wouldn't it? Sure, we all THINK we know exactly what we want when we are 21, but we don't even know the world at that point. And in today's world, things are ever-changing.

__________________
---------------------

http://barbarab2.wordpress.com/

I also have become overwelmed. I am 52 years old. I was hurt on the job and they would not take me back. I was at that company for 12 years. So I took a course in real estate. I did good the first two years but as we all know it is not doing good now. I hate to see the strain on my husband's face when he sits down to do the bills or pay taxes on his own. I want to have my own web page and use ADSENSE on Google. The thing is I don't know how to write. I love to garden,fish and this year hunt also I love to do canning. I can everything I can. From deer meat to soups and stews. I have 5 children all grown now,but I am still used to making big pots of soups and stews that I have a lot left over after my husband and I eat so I can it. When you join one of those web building sites like the ones you all talk about do they help you write the text proper? If I do a web site on one of these topics will I have to do a lot of research or can i just write about the way I do it. Like canning.