Are you having a difficult time deciding on which career to choose? This is a major life-changing decision that you are required to make when entering into college. I know this may not be encouraging, but I changed my major four times throughout my college years. So I encourage you to really evaluate your long-term goals before you make your final verdict.
What do you enjoy most: I know this is a question that you are probably getting asked most? To be honest with you, when I was eighteen years old, I followed what everyone else was doing instead of following my heart. I always knew I wanted to be a writer. But since everyone else was going to college, I decided to do the same. This is why I changed my major so much. No regrets on my part, but I wish I would have listened to my heart. If you enjoy painting or helping others learn, then get a part time job in an art gallery or substituting at a local school. Start exploring the job and see if it is a good fit.
Career counseling: From my counseling background, I am aware that there are tests that counselors can provide that help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, which help deciding what jobs may be of interest. Also, talking with a counselor can help you sort things out. I had a client who loved working at the local animal hospital and would absolutely light up when talking about the animals. But she was in school for teaching because her family had a long line of teachers. She had to make a decision to please herself or others. Luckily, through counseling, she was able to identify and start following her dream of becoming a veterinarian.
List Pros and Cons: Sometimes just narrowing down the pros and cons of a profession can really bring things into perspective. If you get a summer job working in retail, then you may decide that you really like helping people, but you dislike working a register. So you can determine that you would like a job with customer service skills, but may not be interested in dealing with paperwork aspect.
Permission to change: Allow yourself the freedom to change your decisions. Sometimes what feels right at the moment may not be right in the long run. It is okay if things do not work out, that is why the career field has so many different selections and arenas. Explore your options. Don’t say since I have been a social worker for the past ten years, then I will continue to work miserably in this field until I retire. If you have the desire to change careers, then go for it. It is common for most people to have several careers throughout their lifetime anyway.
