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Am I going to be happy with my career choice?

I’m only 18 and a senior in high school. I’m young and every day I learn more about myself and my interests, challenges, and strengths. However, this coming fall I’m going to college to pursue a degree in nursing. As much as I feel confident in this choice now, I worry that this will change. I’m a very different person from who I was just a year or two ago, and I don’t see this personal growth slowing down any time soon. I’m nervous that a few years from now, I’m going to change my mind about my major, or farther down the line I’ll get out in the field and realize I made the wrong decision. How do I deal with this? How do I reassure myself, or prepare myself in case I do doubt my decision? #college-major #career #nursing

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Ken’s Answer

During my many years in Human Resources and College Recruiting, I have found that the more time and effort that a person invests in getting to know him/herself, the better are the chances that he/she will end up in a job/career that is suitable. Too many times I have encountered college graduates who when first on the job found that they did not like or were uncomfortable with the application of their major career area. This could have been prevented by getting to know their personality traits to see how they related to various career areas reaching out and meeting, talking with, visiting, and shadowing people working in their career area of interest to be more assured that they really liked and wanted to be involved in that career area. It is very important, when embarking on this adventure, that you use communication methods such as phone and personal interaction, as these are the most powerful means of social networking, as they allow for the total interpersonal interaction, which is very important in learning about yourself and about others involved in your career areas of interest.

Ken recommends the following next steps:

Talk to your school counselor and academic adviser about taking interest and aptitude testing to identify how your personality traits match with various career areas. Here is a site that will also help with this process, but it is best to talk to the school counselor who as a professional can properly administer the test and interpret the results: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-most-fun-way-to-discover-your-passion-today?bsft_eid=2b5c3d5c-fe0a-46e4-8197-6c5507013b52&bsft_pid=2fd196e9-4e92-48de-a575-6666731c74ba&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_20170616&utm_source=blueshift&utm_content=daily_20170616&bsft_clkid=8bade4ad-3a03-4613-8390-d4261a95f35e&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=97d4f5da-207d-461d-a2b9-9317131c7fea&bsft_pp=1 ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/8-ways-to-figure-out-what-youre-passionate-about-without-leaving-your-couch?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=botw_20170319&utm_source=blueshift&bsft_eid=9e917fa0-52f5-40b4-8468-82aefdd4f028&bsft_pid=49bfb62e-3c07-4c8f-86c8-adc803cb4879&bsft_clkid=c278970d-943e-4ef6-8a9b-856b485e4d8e&bsft_uid=54658fa1-0090-41fd-b88c-20a86c513a6c&bsft_mid=523de355-c4dc-4de2-b452-122bc7501a58&bsft_pp=3&p=3 ##
Talk to the person at your school who works with graduates to arrange to meet, talk to, visit, and shadow people working in your career areas of interest to get to know what they do, where they do it, how they got there, and what advice they have for someone like you who is interested in their career area. Here are some good tips on getting helpful information: ## http://www.wikihow.com/Network ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations ## ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-questions-to-ask-your-network-besides-can-you-get-me-a-job?ref=carousel-slide-1 ##
Identify and visit professional associations to which professional in your career area of interest belong, so that you can attend meetings as a guest and talk to and get to know professionals in that area. These associations are very welcoming of students and many times have shadowing, internship, and scholarship programs available for students. You can learn about associations by talking to your school counselors, favorite teachers, or the reference librarian at your local library. Also, here is a link which will allow you to locate them online, so that you can make a personal contact to arrange to attend a meeting: ## https://www.careeronestop.org/BusinessCenter/Toolkit/find-professional-associations.aspx?&frd=true ## Here are some tips on how to get helpful information when attending such meetings: ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-tips-for-navigating-your-first-networking-event ##
A very important part of this whole process of networking is the follow up. It is very important for you to express your appreciation for the time taken by people who are willing to assist you on your education/career journey. Here are some good tips: Although this articles describes sending a note on the internet, it would be more appropriate to make a phone call to thank the person and at that time inquire if there might be other what this person knows, who could also offer helpful information. ## https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-informational-interview-thank-you-note-smart-people-know-to-send?ref=recently-published-2 ##
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Nicole’s Answer

Hi Hannah K. I see that you posted this question a little while ago so I hope my answer to you (or others who may read this response) is still helpful.

First, I think it is very insightful of you to recognize that the person you are at 18, may not be the person you are as you get older. With personal growth, comes new perspectives and I think it is important to understand how ones perspective and personal goals change as you get older.

As for being worried about these changes, try not to worry too much. A few things that may help you to worry less. 1)As mentioned in other answers, do spend time understanding yourself, specifically what you like/don't like and what you are/are not good at. If there is a conflict between what you like and what you aren't good at, you have the option to get better by devising a plan that allows you to take smaller steps and then mastering those smaller steps until you are better at what you like to do. 2)Keep an open mind about how you can use your strengths/skills. A good writer can become an awesome editor...or they can create their own show :). 3)Happiness in career choice is more in an individual's control than they may realize. Make it a habit to look forward and design a plan for yourself that considers what you hope to be doing, where you hope to be living, a picture of your preferred life, that looks into the future. Then work on putting the important pieces in place to make that vision happen. It's your vision which allows you to adjust as you need to.

Best of luck to you in your career journey.
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Liuv’s Answer

Keep it simple and basic. Pick up to 7 degrees that may interest you. Then do a pros and cons list, after you are done pick your favorites, then do some research. Bls.gov is a great source. Look up what you do daily, the 10 year forecast, and ask yourself will make me happy day in and day out? If you decide not to go to college, make sure you learn a trade and monetize on YouTube by starting your channel. Then sell a course to your audience.
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