First, new countdowns:
15 days until my 26th birthday
15 days of work left this school year
23 days until Megan comes to visit
32 days until the bike ride at Lake Tahoe
33 days until my penpal Cathy comes to visit
37 days until I leave for South Africa
Next, what should I do when I grow up? Here's where my thoughts are on this subject. I have plenty of time and my mind will change a million times before and after making a decision but it can't hurt to think about it.
Thought 1: What I've thought the last couple of years is that after I finish my bachelors in Human Service (next summer) I would like to continue into a masters program in Public Service or International Development. I love the idea of working globally on issues I care about, with the opportunity to make a difference, and hopefully, travel a lot with that job. So the traveling I want to do would already be incorporated into my career.
Downsides: This career seems SO hard to get into. Any positions I see are always WAY up the ladder, which means I would have to spend years working towards it, while possibly doing jobs I don't love just to get to where I THINK I'll love. Not to mention, I still have to get a masters. So before this climb to the top I have 3 years of school ahead of me. Also, what if I have kids? A career like that isn't the best for raising kids I don't think...as far as traveling goes.
Thought 2: Find another career within the school environment so that I can have summers off to continue traveling and doing whatever I want to do. My thoughts were either counselor or social worker. Both of which have opportunities outside of the schools if I ended up wanting that.
Downsides: What if I don't love it? And I continue to sit there working in the schools and loving the summers & breaks, but wishing I was working internationally. Also, if I don't like it I'm left with a very specific degree that can't just be used for anything.
Thought 3: This just occurred to me this morning actually, and that is continue doing occupational therapy. Now hear me out :) I don't dislike what I do. Sometimes I just want something different. But I also know that you get what you give. What if I tried harder at what I currently do? What if I worked really hard to improve in certain areas and figure out what would make me enjoy my job more. I've heard some crazy stories about people loving their jobs again just after changing their mindset.
At the least I will be with OT for 3 more years. I can't deny the great benefits of working in the schools and the perks of being a contract therapist. That's what I will miss more than anything I think. So anyway, that's what consumes my mind a lot of the time.
I figure if I'm doing something I love (working internationally) then I won't miss the school schedule, however, I feel so lucky to be able to just know that I have 3 months a year to do whatever I want. I wouldn't be able to call up Megan and say, "Hey, let's go to Europe next summer!" Just wouldn't be able to do that...but I also go back to, would I miss it? Also, I fly home so much throughout the year and if I had a typical work schedule I wouldn't be able to do that. I dunno.
If it was up to me completely and there was no such thing as student loans...I would just keep going to school forever. Get one degree, start working in that field, and start working on another one just to plan that I'll want a career change soon!
