If you had the chance to go back to the year you graduated from high school, and got to totally rework your professional path in life-
What kind of career would you pursue?

I'm curious because i'm mid-way through college now and I still have no idea what I really want to do. I'm still waiting for any random inspiration that might attract me.

lots of people I know have degrees completely unrelated to what they're doing now. I do think that degree means a lot, though

I would tell myself to get internships into the area's that speak to me. I am sure I would have known waaay earlier that I'd be great at product-design.

I would have gone to uni a year of graduating high school - like I had planned to.

I'd be loathe to change anything. I'm not unhappy with where I've ended up.

Genesia said:

See more Prince concerts in 1987

I would/do not want to go back


And even if I did ... I would not change anything ( really )

My education in Child Psychology and Nutrition has served me very well


Best wishes on your journey ~

HamsterHuey said:

Well, yeah. Except that doesn't really have anything to do with my professional path.

I would have gotten out of the corporate world a lot sooner. It's going to take me a few years yet to get out now.

I would have pursued something in the healthcare field. Maybe occupational or physical therapy. Or physician's assistant. Don't think I would have pursued being an MD, though. Healthcare seems to be one field (somewhat) insulated from the job crisis and economy (for now).

idk

Mach said:

No wonder you get along with everyone here at the Org

Sowhat said:

wow, yeah ... no wonder

I'd tell my parents to fuck off after they advised me that "you'll never make money or a living with music - you need a real job". I'd have gotten a job, moved east or west, gotten in some bands, and stayed working at being in music, whether it was in a band, or as a songwriter, or as a session musician, or whatever.

HamsterHuey said:

you hit the proverbial right on the head there. I did leave school in '87 and wouldn't change anything since then, except, P cancelled the SOTT show at Wembley so I never go to see that tour (the only year I missed him here except for the first one)

ernestsewell said:

My parents told me the same thing about acting.

I would lay off a lot of the shit I got involved in during college. Apply myself and stick to my playwriting. I had won Young Playwright festivals and such. I could've really seen that through. I probably still would've painted eventually also.

But then again. If that were the case I would've probably stayed in NYC and never met Ron.

johnart said:

See, that's the thing. I'm afraid that if I changed one thing, I wouldn't have met Sweetie...or have the friends I have now. And I don't think I could do that.

Genesia said:

I can't imagine life without him and my friends so I don't think I could consciously make a decision to choose a path that might not include them.

torahwarrior said:

It's a cliche, but do what you enjoying doing. That'll make you happier than the money earned working at something you find onerous.

ernestsewell said:

Hi Ernest. New here. I'm a professional musician (but not famous). I noticed in your profile that you live reasonably close to NYC. What is stopping you from doing this now?

tubby said:

I play and record music, and have for a few years now on a more regular rate. I have quite a few songs on Last.FM, and a sampling of stuff on my Myspace.

I'd be retired from the entertainment industry and getting involved in non-profit work doing the work I do now.

ernestsewell said:

Oh...actually I meant more along the lines of making a living from it as opposed to being a hobbyist (like being a session musician or selling your works to artists).

I would have hooked up with Bill Gates!

Truthfully, I wish I had pursued veterinary medicine. I would have had a shoe-in at Tuskegee, and it had one of the best vet med programs in the country at the time I would have matriculated. And if that had not have worked out, I wish I had taken my mother's advice to get a federal government position. I would have at least been "secure." Instead, I opted to be loyal to my college alma mater, but in the end, one of its affiliates fucked me over.
[Edited 3/17/10 9:45am]

i love my job, the world will always need nurses. been doing this for 25years, and worked round the world with this qualification. there are loads of specialist areas, so when it gets boring and you had a gutful of delivering sprogs or dealing with shittempered surgeons its easy to try something new. i'm doing tropical medicine right now cos i fancy a exotic locationship

PurpleJane said:

You're right. I have a lot of respect for nurses. They have to take a lot of shit from physicians. And if you're a good nurse, you will always have a job. Hell, my hospital was offering $1000 bonuses for any employee who referred a nurse. Upon that nurse signing a contract, the employee would get a check for $1000. Of course, this was years ago!

Shyra said:

thanks, yeah, it's hard to recruit even now cos the wages arent good. nurses have always had raw deal in that dept,

If I knew then what I know now I'd have gone to med school and specialized in radiology.

I'd have chosen college over marriage.