How did you decide on your career?

[sasywtch]

I did like a lot of others did in this area, took the test for a state job. I got hired right away, worked while having 4 kids and going to night college. Then during my divorce, I decided I needed to see what else was out there so contracted with the county. I worked in human assistance ( welfare benefits) and the sheriff's department. After a few years, I went back to work for the state in my original department and retired from there. Did this because the retirement and health benefits are good.

 

[barkley]

Wow. I never met any females with this mindset in college. Or more accurately, they were not in my circle of friends. Everyone was very career-minded. I graduated from high school in 1986 and lived on the west coast.

i graduated in '79/california. it was pretty common among a particular faith that attended my public high school in large numbers for the girls/their parents to just plan on funding 1-2 years at their faith's college(s) b/c they were hubby hunting. i also graduated with a good chunk who had (or frequently it was their parent's) aspirations of marrying professional (or soon to be) men-they could rattle off which private and public universities had the best potential and which general ed classes fed in to which majors-and absolutly which sorority was key to a female's marital 'success'

 

[FastPasser.]

Long career as a consulting design engineer. Was able to retire very early from that and got a retirement job at WDW. Retired with full benefits from the Disney Company.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I went to school to be a history teacher. Did my student teaching and knew it was not the career for me. I spoke to my mentor and realized what I loved about history was doing the research. Regrouped, enrolled in graduate school and became a librarian.

 

[barkley]

I went to school to be a history teacher. Did my student teaching and knew it was not the career for me. I spoke to my mentor and realized what I loved about history was doing the research. Regrouped, enrolled in graduate school and became a librarian.

the teacher education programs around here have elements of student teaching much earlier in the program than when i went to college-we did'nt do any until our final quarter. i think it's so much better to find out it's not a good fit sooner than later.

 

[disneyseniors]

the number of girls i graduated high school with who had the sole intent of attending college for the shortest amount of time possible in pursuit of their 'MRS degree' still boggles my mind.

I found out later on that I could have gone to college virtually free. I was 7th in our class of 125, and didn't even know it!!! There was no college councelor at that time. It was up to you to talk with someone if you thought it would help get into college. I was really surprised at that and wish I would have gone to college back then. But it all worked out. Times have certainly changed!

 

[Buzz Rules]

I found out later on that I could have gone to college virtually free. I was 7th in our class of 125, and didn't even know it!!! There was no college councelor at that time. It was up to you to talk with someone if you thought it would help get into college. I was really surprised at that and wish I would have gone to college back then. But it all worked out. Times have certainly changed!

It's never too late for college.

 

[disneyseniors]

It's never too late for college.

Yes, I eventually went to college when my kids were in school and got my nursing degree. I loved college at that age and got a lot of use out of my RN degree I was 29 when I started college.

 

[PolymerSkywalker]

Chemistry teacher in high school saw that it came pretty easy and steered me into my field of study. She even filled out info at a great engineering school and got them to start recruiting me. What a great lady she was!

 

[midnightbast]

Idk. I mean I studied at university on Information systems of technologies and after graduated from there I got an job invite applications and now wotking as a developer on custom web app development company. So this is how it happend

 

[Thinkentt]

Choosing a career path is like navigating a maze with a blindfold on, am I right? For me, it was a mix of passion, practicality, and a dash of serendipity. I followed my heart, but also kept an eye on the job market – gotta pay the bills, ya know? And then there's that good ol' "hrdf training" jazz, helping to sharpen those skills and open up new doors.

 

[texaslover]

I got a BBA with a double major of marketing and management. I wanted to do PR or advertising during college but I took a class in Human Resources and it seemed diverse enough to keep me on the move and growing. The thing I really didn't want was a straight desk job. I applied for jobs and took one as a Human Resource secretary to get a foot in the door and was promoted in 6 months to HR Rep. Changed jobs a few times for better pay and was working as a Corporate Trainer when I got pregnant with DS. I was traveling 70% of the time as was my ex so we made the decision for me to stay home for a while. I worked from home for a year before they told me I had to come back or resign. Stayed home another 4 years until my son was in school and went back for a masters (MA) in Education. Started a second career as an elementary teacher and eventually was promoted to ESL/coach where I work with ESL students and coach teachers on best practices in the classroom. I've been in education for 18 years. It served me well when the hours matched my son and I've thoroughly enjoyed the kids. I'm not sure I'd do it again only because the pay and lack of opportunity to advance isn't there and the climate of hate and lack of funding for public education makes it not much fun anymore. It's sad for people who want to do the job well and sad for the kids. Gotta stick it out for 5 more years for retirement though !

 

[Maistre Gracey]

When I was 18 I was at the bar having a beer with friends (drinking age was 18 back then).
We had a very small airport in town, and my buddy bet me $10 I wouldn’t take a flight lesson.
Next day, wanting to prove him wrong, I did just that.
I ended up getting a private pilot license for hobby only.
A year or two later my mother was yelling at me.. “what are you going to do with your life..!!??”

Well, I said to myself.. I’m pretty good at this pilot thing, so why not give it a go?

Today I am a captain on an Airbus for a major carrier.
I’m now 60 years old and cannot wait to retire!!!

Thanks to my buddy (who never gave me the 10 bucks), I have had a very successful career.

I’m based in MCO, and have likely been the captain on many of the folks here flights to and fro….

ETA: That’s also how I met my wife. I was a deadheading crew member (first officer) on a small commuter airline back in 1990. She was also a passenger. We were married in 1995.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

From the time I was quite young I enjoyed going into local nursing homes and sitting and talking to patients. My mom worked in one and my friend’s grandmother was in another. Later, in HS, then college, I worked there in various positions (activities, kitchen, nurse’s aide). It was natural for me to become a nurse - four generations of nurses on my maternal side (now my DD, too). I’ve had a great hospital career and would still recommend nursing as a career to others if they’re cut out for it. It’s not easy work today (or was it ever) but there’s a lot you can do with it. I still love talking to patients, and they usually enjoy having me as their nurse as someone who takes time to listen and care about what’s going on with them.