Where I Belong

After I graduated from high school, I went right to college. I was excited to go, but not necessarily for the right reasons. It was more so because of the opportunity to get out of town and do my own thing for a while, not to further my education. I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. So, I went to WSU for two semesters and pretty much B.S.'ed my way through the year. Even with minimal effort, I still managed a 3.3 GPA--pretty impressive, huh? I got those grades doing my homework, hardly studying for tests, and going to parties to drink and do drugs. Imagine what I could've done had I actually tried. But, I didn't feel like I should stay for all the obvious reasons. I figured I could go home, start working and be just fine. Why not? I've heard plenty of stories about people being perfectly successful without a college education.

So, I go home, live with my parents for a while, get a job and see a possible career to come from this job. I'm good at what I do (but of course I'd be good at anything I did... a blessing and a curse, might I add), and I think I would enjoy moving up with this company. But as time passes (about two years), I start to realize that things aren't all they cracked up to be. Basically, the corporate world SUCKS. Having a boss who doesn't care about you is horribly disappointing, and I can't handle life like that. So, here I am, back at square one... I need to go back to school. I NEED to figure out where I belong. I've had plenty of ideas for possible career paths, but I've always gotten psyched out of them.

Culinary arts--long hours, hard to be successful, made a wedding cake and thought I was going to kill myself.
Business--I would be a good leader, but I want to do something good for the world.
Journalism--I really just thought about it today and realized that I don't think I would enjoy reporting events. I enjoy blog-style writing a lot more and what can I do with that?
Teaching--too underapreciated and underpaid

And then there's psychology. I've been drawn to the idea of being a counselor for the longest of all the ideas, particularly since I've seen a counselor for a long time. I like the idea of having my own hours, my own office, my own jurisdiction. I suppose the only people I'd really have to deal with are insurance companies, but essentially I would be my own boss. I also love the idea of helping people. I have always loved giving advice, being someone to confide in, helping people get through things. That's the whole "making a difference in the world" part that is pretty important to me. I want to make money, sure, but I want to make a difference. I want to help the divorce rate drop from 50%! Sounds like I've already pretty much made up my mind, doesn't it? So what's keeping me from this dream? ..school...

That's what has psyched me out about the whole idea; the amount of school! I need my bachelors degree, masters degree, AND three years at an agency before I can have my own private practice. I'm looking at approximately 8-9 years of school before I'm where I want to be. But, I remember what someone pretty wise said to me once... you have to find that one thing you're passionate about to the point of not caring how much is involved in getting there, just wanting to be there. And I do. I think it's just a matter of not thinking about it too much, which is what I'm guilty of doing with everything, it seems. Life flies by, and I know if I set my mind to it, I can do anything I want.

Don't call it a comeback

Now that I've finally figured out how to log in to this NewBlogger stuff, I'm-a comin' back! And boy, oh boy, do I have a lot to say...

Just you wait, just you wait..