How did you know it was right?
 

How did you know that what you wanted to study in or make a life long career in was right?

Some of us don't. In my many years as an adult, I've changed my focus several times. Some people are very good at choosing a career and sticking with it for a lifetime. Some of us like to change it up a little.

Gosh that is a tough question.

I can tell you that I consider myself very fortunate to have always known what I wanted to do. Ever since I could open my mouth, I could sing, and I have been pursuing it all my life. I have always known that this is what I wanted to do. But, in each and every field of study, opportunities open up in so many different ways. In highschool, I just sang in every opportunity I could. Then I was in the musical Grease, and realized that I loved live performing. Then I went to a performance at the college I eventually attended, and realized that opera was what I really wanted to do. So, I got my degree in opera performance. Along the way, I discovered an amazing love for foreign language, since I have been performing in French, German, Italian, Russian, Latin, you name it, for about 7 years now. So, now I am going on to get two more degrees, one in French and one in Italian. So you have to see by my example that I just immerse myself in something I like (music), and with time I learned more about myself and what I like to do. My best friend isn't a musician, but she has a similar story. She knew she liked crime shows, investigation, etc, so she went to college for criminal justice. She took some psychology courses, and felt drawn to criminal psychology. So it is really about exploring all of your options, and being open to change. I think that life is better if we are constantly learning and opening ourselves to new opportunities. I also think it is important to know what kind of learner you are. I am a cognitive learner, which means math and music make a lot of sense to me, because I can see patterns and equations well. But if you put me in a history course, facts and figures just slip my mind. I don't know at what stage you are at in life, but I always tell new college students to start with general education requirements, and explore! I discovered that I love astronomy, and would probably be studying it if I didn't feel so passionately about music. And I learned that I don't like history! Ha! I hope this was helpful. I like to learn from other people's experiences, and I hope mine has shed a little light on your dilema. And you know what? You could be 70 years old and still discovering what it is you want to do, so don't ever feel like there is a limit to when you must be set in your life's work!

I'm only 21 so some would say that I don't know what I want to do, but trust me...I do. I don't know when it happened that I decided I wanted to be a court reporter, sometime early in high school, but then the more and more I thought about it, it was a PERFECT fit. Everything I love, words, independent work, grammar, a challenge, all into one package! And more importantly everything I don't love, depending on others, working with many people, etc, etc NOT involved. It just worked out really well for me, and I've been doing it for a year and really love it.

I know it's not that easy for most because most of my friends have already changed their majors at least a few times. You'll figure it out when the time is right. Do what you want for right now, and if you change your mind later, there's nothing wrong with that either. Good luck :)

I have always known what I wanted to do, but then my thoughts changed and I thought I would try something different. It's not that I'm unhappy doing what I'm doing, but I know I need to pursue my dream, so that's what I'm doing now, and I'm back in school :)

took me 5 years in university to figure out (God bless my parents for putting up with it and footing the bill) i loved art in highschool.. it was my best class and i loved doing it.. so i took art all through univeristy (mainly art history with a few studio classes) but i had NO Idea what i wantd to do with it.... for a while i was going to be a speech pathologist but it just didn't feel right. My mom is a teacher and was always saying... don't teach!! lol... but teaching art was what i wanted to do! so i am now in teacher's college to become a highschool art teacher! (mom is fully supportive :) ) teaching for me is deal... i can still have a family (when that day comes) i can travel with my job (which i plan on doing within the next 5 years) and it is doing something every day that i love.

I also have changed my major soo many times I cant count them on my fingers... I am currently taking a Anatomy & Physiology 1 and Medical Terminology... while I enjoy Medical Terminology I dont really like AP1... lol.. I was going to go into nursing but I just dont think it is for me.. I think Hubby thinks I am taking the easy way out because it is hard for me but the truth is its not what I like .... I don't think I can handle injecting ppl and seeing blood and dressing wounds... it hurts my whole body just thinking of it.. but I cant drop these classes since I am on student loans so I am stuck with them until the end of the semester.. I am 23 will be 24 in Nov. and I just want to be done with school already.. I think I am going to go into teaching... I enjoy teaching ppl and I love the feeling you get when you know you taught someone something or changed them even a bit.. I used to be a youth girls coach in basketball and softball and I loved it...I cried at the end of every season when my girls left... lol... but I am scared of not knowing how to TEACH them right.. does that make sense... :confused:

If you want to stay in the med field but not do nursing, you could look into being an ultrasound tech or CT tech...
But if your heart is in teaching, then you should go for it...You don't want to go the rest of your life wondering what if...That's why I'm back in school :)
I've read that Texas is a great place to teach!

Hmm well I heard the salaries went great? Is that what your going back for teaching? My heart really truly is in teaching Im figuring this out... a semester late but better than never right.... where did you hear Texas is a great place to teach?

A friend of mine is in teaching and she told me that she's looking at jobs in a specific area of Texas because they are offering certain bonuses and good salaries, plus the cost of living is supposed to be less. I'm not sure where she was talking about in Texas, but I'll ask next time I talk to her.
I'm not going back for teaching :) I'm going back to become an MD :)

Congrats!

career
 

That sure was a hard question for me...everything seem interesting. If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now...I would study to be a midwife...but didn't know that until I was 40!!! I am 62 and still have dreams I am in high school totally clueless as to what I want to be...remember the only thing written in stone is your name on your tombstone...try anything that you want and then try something else if you aren't happy...just life your life with no regrets...I have very, very few myself.

thanks great advice...

Thanks!!

wow. I'm really enjoying reading this thread. It's so interesting!

I know what I want to do (theatre) and I'm studying for it now in high school. :)