Right now, I am at a point in my life where I need to figure out what I want to do for a career. I currently work at Safeway as a food clerk, but I can't work there forever (unless I decided I wanted to be a manager there). One of the things I get from my mother is not knowing what I want to do with my life for a career. She got a job as an 18 year old with a telephone company (Pacific Northwest Bell which became US-West which became Qwest which became Century Link). She worked there for about 30 years. I know I don't wanna be stuck in the same job for 30 years, and I do plan on going back to school, but what for? Here's a look at what I've considered for careers, in (somewhat) chronological order:
- Fireman
As a kid, I never really expressed it to anyone, but I wanted to be a fireman. I heard once my dad almost became a fireman but didn't because of his horrible vision, so I wanted to maybe do what he didn't. However, I was always short for my age and I felt a good firefighter is someone who can lift and carry the average sized man, which I can not. Maybe I"ll get in shape and become a volunteer firefighter someday. That would fulfill this passion. But I don't think I could ever become a full-time fireman.
- Computer Scientist/Technician
In my late high school years and early college years, I wanted to do something with computers. I was fascinated by them. So as my "major" at Bellevue Community College, I chose Computer Science. My first Computer Science class, CS101, was a blast. I did well and I had a great instructor. However, my next Computer Science Class was nowhere near what I was expecting. It involved a lot of programming (including Javascript and C++), something I couldn't get my mind to understand, no matter how hard I tried. The instructor was not helpful and I ended up doing pretty poorly in the class, as well as not enjoying it. After that class, I gave up on computers, because I don't think I'll ever be able to learn programming and coding.
- Math Teacher
Shortly after giving up Computer Science, I thought about teaching Math because I like math so much. And BCC had an Associate's for Mathematical Education. However, after some thinking, I decided not to do it. I do like teaching, but I get easily frustrated when someone doesn't understand, and I'm still not good speaking in front of groups. Plus, teachers have never been paid well (although they should be).
- Professional singer/entertainer/comedian
I never seriously considered these careers, but if I had the talent, I so would. If I worked hard enough I could be a decent enough of a comedian, but not anyone real well-known. I'd love to be a singer, but my vocal range is very limited (thanks puberty) and my lack of confidence can get to me at times.
- Sports marketing
I would love a career that has to do with sports, because sports is one of my passions. So, I looked into it and I found a school (Full Sail) that offers a Sports Marketing Online degree. I applied and even went through all of the enrollment processes and tasks, but I couldn't officially start, because my heart wasn't in it. Why? Because I just couldn't see myself in it. I also realized that I didn't want to ever dislike sports. I felt like if I got a job in sports marketing and I didn't like it for some reason, then I would start to dislike sports. Sports are something that I can enjoy outside of my work and personal life and I want it to stay that way.
- Professional YouTuber/LP'er
One of the things I really think I could do is being a professional YouTuber. Yeah, I know I harped on Google/YouTube in an earlier post, but I think I would certainly enjoy this and be good at it. I've already put out some LP's (Let's Play's--You play through a game in hopes of having your viewers play along with you), but I would like to do other things, such as pranks, vlogs, and comedy/sketch videos. And it is certainly possible to make a living off of YouTube. One YouTuber I'm subscribed to, Jonathan Paula, makes a living solely off the views and subscribers he gets on YouTube. It helps to have a show ("Is it a Good Idea to Microwave This?") that has a total amount of views over 20 million, but you get my point. However, it's hard to get started and make enough money to support yourself. Also, many would not see this as a smart or viable career choice. It's not something that I've completely shut the book on like other career choices. I'm thinking I'll just keep this as a hobby until one day I do an LP that gets me a boatload of subscribers.
- Writer
One of the more recent careers I've considered is writing. Which type? Hard to say. I feel like I could write anything I needed to, whether it be newspaper/magazine articles, screenwriting, or even novelizations. The thing that's kept me from pursuing this career is I read from a former writer that when he started writing for a newspaper that writing lost its interesting and became a chore more than a hobby. You have to meet deadlines and you have to keep readers interested. Much more stressful a career than it seems. I've watched Californication on Showtime and the character of Hank Moody (played by David Duchovny) is a writer and he seems to hate it. I think I can be a decent enough of a writer, but not so talented that it would get me through all the stress and deadlines.
One of my problems is that I've never striven to be extraordinary. A huge part of me just wants to be ordinary. I want an ordinary family, job, house, life, you name it. I want a normal 9-5 job in a cubicle somewhere, if it'll be enough to get me by. I do feel like I'll make a name for myself someday. What I really want to be more than anything is to be an amazing father. I want my kids to call me the best dad in the world. I want to make them into really incredible people. But in order to do that, I have to get a career where I can afford kids, so that is what I will work on. I want to be a father more than anything, but unfortunately that job doesn't pay. But it pays in terms of life fulfillment, which is something money can't buy. I'll just have to wait until that day comes.
