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What is the hardest thing about not having a career you want to do when in 12th grade
What is the most hardest thing about having not the idea what career do you want to pick for life and to collaborate as a system in learning the process of different things?
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8 answers
Alan Weber
writer and retired teacher, teacher educator and academic advisor
207
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Woodstock, New York
Updated
Alan’s Answer
Nathan, it's really not all that hard. Many, if not most students aren't sure of their career path when they enter college. Exploring possibilities is one of the purposes that colleges serve. You might end up taking a few classes that you'll find may have been unnecessary, but that's a small price to pay in exchange for making a good, educated decision about the rest of your life. Start by narrowing down your best options, considering your interests, hobbies, experiences, skills and values, and when you enter college, take a class in each of your first couple of semesters that could help you decide if that field is for you. Talk to your counselors, speak to academic advisors from the colleges you're interested in, either when they come to your school or by visiting theirs, look over their websites to explore the programs they offer, and maybe do some observing or volunteering at places that practice what you think you might be interested in. You're talking about the rest of your life. Don't rush your decision, let it reveal itself.
Thank you so much I really appreciate you answering my question
Nathan
Updated
Polly’s Answer
Hi Nathan,
This is a very difficult decision to make, I do not envy you, sometimes people know what direction they want to follow, maybe it's a family member or a life time dream, but I was also in the same boat as you Nathan.
I knew I was a people person therefore needed to be involved with people, do you feel this way? or would you consider your more machine/computor orientated?
Follow your interests and what you enjoy doing, then explore the different avenues this make take you.
Iniatially, this might not be for the rest of your life, but the beginning of a life of discovery over time.
Talk to people in different Professions, what it took to qualify for their positions and the advantages & disadvantags of their jobs.
Get involved with voluntary work Nathan within your community, you may also gain experience and possibly new contacts in your future endeavours.
Expand your horizons... the world is your oyster!
Go well, Polly
This is a very difficult decision to make, I do not envy you, sometimes people know what direction they want to follow, maybe it's a family member or a life time dream, but I was also in the same boat as you Nathan.
I knew I was a people person therefore needed to be involved with people, do you feel this way? or would you consider your more machine/computor orientated?
Follow your interests and what you enjoy doing, then explore the different avenues this make take you.
Iniatially, this might not be for the rest of your life, but the beginning of a life of discovery over time.
Talk to people in different Professions, what it took to qualify for their positions and the advantages & disadvantags of their jobs.
Get involved with voluntary work Nathan within your community, you may also gain experience and possibly new contacts in your future endeavours.
Expand your horizons... the world is your oyster!
Go well, Polly
Updated
Chuqi’s Answer
Hello Nathan! Let's start with this - it's absolutely okay to be in the 12th grade and still not have a clear career path in mind. You're a student, and that puts you in a unique position where you can dive into any field without feeling the stress of making an immediate decision. Take your time to explore all the wonderful opportunities that are available to you, there's absolutely no need to hurry. A good starting point would be to think about what makes you happy every day, and then take into account your strengths or the subjects you're really good at. Make a note of these, and before you know it, you'll begin to see your potential career paths.
Updated
Enise’s Answer
Hello there,
It is not too late to have a career in your life, yet if the academic curriculum requires to have a volunteering and/or internship experience for the university (this is what I understood - if this is not something that I understood, I am sorry for answering in a wrong way), you should apply for the volunteering job immediately. For work career, it is not too late to upgrade yourself, and you may have some thoughts about your career and its benefits for the future career, yet I would say that you should prepare to face with others who take you down what you want, practice what you prepare for, and never get fed up with your work career unless your job is right for you. With either your academic year and work career for the first time or not, you should balance with either of them, because you should focus on your academic year mostly, and you should less worry about the job that you should for the university in the future. Thus, you should have some thoughts about the career you want for so long or alternative job(s) that you can move on to. Take your journey, path your way!
I hope this helps
It is not too late to have a career in your life, yet if the academic curriculum requires to have a volunteering and/or internship experience for the university (this is what I understood - if this is not something that I understood, I am sorry for answering in a wrong way), you should apply for the volunteering job immediately. For work career, it is not too late to upgrade yourself, and you may have some thoughts about your career and its benefits for the future career, yet I would say that you should prepare to face with others who take you down what you want, practice what you prepare for, and never get fed up with your work career unless your job is right for you. With either your academic year and work career for the first time or not, you should balance with either of them, because you should focus on your academic year mostly, and you should less worry about the job that you should for the university in the future. Thus, you should have some thoughts about the career you want for so long or alternative job(s) that you can move on to. Take your journey, path your way!
I hope this helps
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. Many students have similar questions. Let's think about what careers what you have interest.
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a singer, musician, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, do you want to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Below are my suggestions :
1. Think about what you have interest, e.g. your hobbies, favourite subjects, etc. and identify the related careers
E.g. If you like music, would you like to be a singer, musician, musical artist, music composer, music producer, etc.
If you have interest in maths, do you want to be an accountant, engineer, banker, financial analyst, maths teacher, etc.
2. Find out more on these careers and determine what you have interest
3. Speak to someone who are working in these careers. Seek guidance from your mentor, school career counsellor, your parents, etc.
4. Shortlist 1-2 career you would like to pursue
5. Explore the entry criteria of relevant subjects in the college
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
Updated
Atul’s Answer
The answers you seek often reside within you, waiting to be unearthed.
Understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
For example, some individuals excel in interpersonal skills, but struggle with subjects like Math or Science. For these individuals, an undergraduate degree in marketing may be a natural fit.
I discovered my strength in Math and analytical skills over 40 years ago, which led me to pursue a career in Software Engineering. I have lived the American dream, cherishing every moment of my professional journey, and harbor no regrets even in retirement.
Your high school counselor, as well as your favorite teacher, can serve as valuable guides in your journey. Seek their advice, but remember the final decision rests with you.
Keep in mind that the first two years of an undergraduate program typically consist of general education courses, while the latter two focus on your major. State universities offer a plethora of options, but it's crucial to have a clear goal before diving in. If you find your chosen path too challenging, remember it's always possible to change your major.
In my own family, my nephew initially studied Computer Science, only to discover his true passion lay in medicine. I have no doubt his software knowledge will prove beneficial as he ventures into the field of robotic surgery.
In conclusion, always follow your passion. If you excel in what you love, financial success will inevitably follow.
Understand your strengths and areas for improvement.
For example, some individuals excel in interpersonal skills, but struggle with subjects like Math or Science. For these individuals, an undergraduate degree in marketing may be a natural fit.
I discovered my strength in Math and analytical skills over 40 years ago, which led me to pursue a career in Software Engineering. I have lived the American dream, cherishing every moment of my professional journey, and harbor no regrets even in retirement.
Your high school counselor, as well as your favorite teacher, can serve as valuable guides in your journey. Seek their advice, but remember the final decision rests with you.
Keep in mind that the first two years of an undergraduate program typically consist of general education courses, while the latter two focus on your major. State universities offer a plethora of options, but it's crucial to have a clear goal before diving in. If you find your chosen path too challenging, remember it's always possible to change your major.
In my own family, my nephew initially studied Computer Science, only to discover his true passion lay in medicine. I have no doubt his software knowledge will prove beneficial as he ventures into the field of robotic surgery.
In conclusion, always follow your passion. If you excel in what you love, financial success will inevitably follow.
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Having been in this position I would say that the pressure to feel like you are "supposed to know" is the hardest thing. I will say that going to college exposed me to a lot of different realities of what careers and career paths actually existed. I took my time and did some fact finding around different majors and career to help find the one that I believed was right for me.
Updated
Lee’s Answer
Hey Nathan - I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left high school. While it doesn't sound as organised or planned as many other people, what worked for me was finding what I wanted to do at that time. The hardest thing about that was feeling out of control, feeling like other people were busy getting degrees or being successful while I wasn't.
Looking back, I'm glad I made decisions that suited me at the time. For every success story of someone finding a spark that led to their life long passion, there is the story of someone like me who followed their interest and passion in the moment, across jobs or across industries. Today I've found myself in a job I love at a company I'm proud to work for.
It's ok to now know what you want to do, you've got a whole life to find out.
Looking back, I'm glad I made decisions that suited me at the time. For every success story of someone finding a spark that led to their life long passion, there is the story of someone like me who followed their interest and passion in the moment, across jobs or across industries. Today I've found myself in a job I love at a company I'm proud to work for.
It's ok to now know what you want to do, you've got a whole life to find out.