When I went to college I didn’t have all those little duckies in a row. As embarrassing as it is, it took me 6.5 years to get a 4 year degree.
What’s worse is that I have a twin brother who graduated from college 3 years prior to me. Little embarrassing? Damn right. But I’ve always been a “late bloomer.” lol, I’m late to everything.
You might know someone who did this. Ask them why? Chances are they do it because they changed their minds in degree choice, or college choice.
IGNORANCE BREEDS NOTHING!
Ignorance in the form of “not knowing” as its meaning here. When I went to college in 1989, I wanted a Journalism degree. I remember shopping at a Kmart (no Wal-Mart’s in the area then…I know, can you believe it?) and running into a friend’s mother. By this point as a graduated senior from high school, I made a decision to go into journalism and wasn’t really exercising any options. So as I told this to my friends mom, she had this happy look on her face like “Oh, how awesome!!” Sure I was feeling pretty good at that point as she praised the career of a Journalist and how cool it would be.
So yea, it sounded great at that time for me to be a newspaper reporter, or even television journalism. All I really allowed in my mind was that it was a “cool” career and would be exciting, and people would be impressed.
Sure those things are good, but eventually I started taking classes at Columbia College in Chicago. Loved the school, hated the degree.
Two years and a sh*t ton of money later, I changed my mind and decided not to go into Journalism. So after two years, I left Columbia…but had no plan.
PUT THE PIECES IN PLAY
There is a section on my blog that is a four-part series on assisting you to making the right career choice.
Have a plan. And then have a back up plan. Life happens and if you are not ready and have all the pieces of your puzzle together, then if life throws you that curve ball, all your ducks will waddle in all directions.
Make a list of your top 3 career choices and list why you choose them. Then make a list of your top 3 college choices.
BE REAL HERE
Don’t pick a career because it pays a lot of money. You will make the money if you find something that fits your personality and talents. Don’t pick a college because its popular, or has a lot of parties. Your in college…you will find the fun.
Think about what is important to you.
Make a list of everything that makes you happy when it comes to future jobs. Then rank them in importance. Find your skills, talents and how your personality should match with different careers.
Do the same thing with regard to college choice.
I didn’t do this…obviously. When I left Columbia I had absolutely NO plans about what my future entailed. I was clueless, and many of us are. It’s okay. Check the blog posts above to get some direction on what to do when choosing degrees and careers.
But, my problem was that I just didn’t have the plan. I didn’t make a list or think about other options in colleges and other potential degrees I could get.
I thought about nothing but what I wanted. I didn’t want to bother with all that, because I had other things to worry about…and thought I felt comfortable enough with what I chose. Well I was wrong. I went to 2 different colleges before getting a degree in Communications.
Now I’m a college recruiter. Go figure. Experience pays.
Greg Barrette writes a great blog at CAREEREALISM.COMthat highlights why internships are so important with regard to experience @ http://bit.ly/aYRdZp.
Find your passion. It’s what defines you.
Your success is my success,
Keith Lipke is a careers and college coach, mentor and blogger at the hope chest. His objective is to educate, inspire, and give hope to young people that need it upon their search for the right career and college.
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