Finding a Career .....

During my high school years, I remember taking a test that evaluated my interests and matched them with a career that would be ideal for me based on those interests. The results of that test, as I guessed they would be beforehand, were to study towards a career that related to animals or agriculture. That stands to reason since I have always had a great love for animals. To me, this meant that I should either be a vet or work in a pet store or something like that.

I thought this through, and decided that veterinary medicine would not be the career for me because I didn’t think I could separate myself from the emotions that someone like me would have when faced with a suffering animal. I was still pretty young, around ninth grade, and I was absolutely horse crazy. I found a job on a horse farm in Ft. Lauderdale where I did chores on the weekend and was able to have riding lessons. At the time, it satisfied me to have free riding lessons and a few dollars in my pocket. I decided that since I enjoyed being at the farm so much and I was excelling in my equestrian skills, that after high school I would study agriculture management and find a job as a stable manager… Not exactly a job you see very often in the want ads! What can I say; I was fourteen at the time!

I ended up getting pregnant at a very early age, and right around the time that I would be getting settled into college, I was far too busy taking care of a brand new preemie and ended up at the community college close to home. At this time, I don’t think I even remembered this test I took years before and my wish to be a stable manager and ride horses all day! I enrolled in the drafting and design technology program at the college and set a course for getting done and getting a job as soon as possible. That is exactly what I did. I did my studies, and got a job as a civil drafter in a small office close to home. I was very good at it, and I enjoyed doing it…at least at first. Before too long, I found myself very stir crazy at my desk and began loathing my job. I felt like if they didn’t install some sort of restraint in my desk chair, I was liable to get up and run the moment they weren’t looking, hahaha. I started remembering the farm and how much I enjoyed being free to move around and sincerely enjoying my job. After three years, I decided to move on from my drafting job and pursue a career in agriculture. I moved to Illinois and enrolled in a small college here in their agriculture and equine science programs. Since then, I have been a waitress, a bartender, a farm hand, a nanny, a cashier, a furniture salesperson, a factory worker, and most recently I spent three years at Monsanto as a seed technician collecting field data on corn plants.

Sound crazy? It does to me… When I write that down, I read back and think I must sound like a complete fool. I had a job that I could have easily made a career out of. It paid well and it was secure. At the time, though, it felt like it was sucking the life right out of me. Now I feel like my lack of a career is what is sucking the life out of me. I have wanted all along to find something that was enjoyable to me and also pays enough to live comfortably. I never wanted to be one of those people who hated their job so much that I was driven to a mental breakdown at age 45.

I recently took a career test online, and wouldn’t you know it, they still say the same thing! I always want to tell the computer screen, “ I know, I know, I like animals!! What should I do for work!!”?

So, here I am, age thirty and nowhere closer to a career than I was when I was fourteen. I am hoping to find a career that will stick soon enough to afford me enough time to build up some kind of retirement. I don’t want to work until I’m ninety, so I feel this sense of urgency. I feel like I need to figure it out very fast. I want to be very sure, though, so I make the right choice based on what I know about the jobs I have worked in the past and what I have learned about what I enjoy on a professional level. In a way, I feel at least a little fortunate having worked in so many different industries.  While it has taken me a long time, I have learned a lot about myself through it all and I am very sure of what will NOT make me happy.  When I make a decision, I won't be rolling the dice.  I have looked into many different options at the local colleges and even some online colleges. I’ve got my fingers crossed and am remaining hopeful that there is something that I will truly enjoy. Wish me luck!!