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Location: Texas | Hey y’all, Im a senior in high school this year and getting ready to go into college. Here’s my problem I really don’t know what I want to do in life yet like job wise. I was wondering if y’all had any suggestions? I guess I should tell y’all a bit about me and my goals in life. I’ve been told that I’m a very easy person to talk to and to get advice from. I currently work at taco bell and I really enjoy getting to know the customers and talking to them. I love working with livestock because I showed lambs and goats throughout high school and loved helping kids who didn’t know as much as I did. School wise I hate math and economics. My favorite classes was history and ag. I really enjoyed U.S. and Texas history the best. If y’all have ideas, suggestions, or questions just let me know. Thank y’all! |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
 
| I would go take a couple of career inventories to see what jobs are related to your likes and interests.
A couple of suggestions are www.onetonline.org and www.yourfreecareertest.com
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| I agree, take some career inventory tests and see what your strengths are.
Is there anything you want to do? But maybe have pushed it out of mind for some reason?
Based on your short description, have you thought about teaching? |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | How about being an Ag teacher |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 612
| Go to college and start taking your Gen Ed classes. You will change your mind 10 times before you have a real career direction. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1215
Location: lost somewhere in Texas | Browse through the Occupational Outlook Handbook - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/ - to get an idea of occupations, fastest growing occupations, and those projected to grow in the future. If you know someone who works in a career field that sounds interesting to you, see if you can set up a time to talk with that person. Ask why she chose that occupation, what she loves about it, what she hates about it. Ask her what she wished she had known when she was your age - and LISTEN to her. Not saying that you have to take her advice to heart and follow it exactly, but different perspectives can be a good thing.
I work with undergrads on a daily basis at a major university. My number one advice to them is to find a skill/hobby they love and develop that skill - photography, piano, guitar, crossfit, scuba diving, etc. Even if it has nothing to do with their major or future career path. You never know when an opportunity will present itself to marry your hobby/skill and your occupation. Finding your passion is half of the battle. And as a bonus, it gives them something to talk about in their job interviews and helps them to stand out from the other applicants.
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | JAG18 - 2017-01-23 3:46 PM Go to college and start taking your Gen Ed classes. You will change your mind 10 times before you have a real career direction.
I agree.. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | JAG18 - 2017-01-23 2:46 PM
Go to college and start taking your Gen Ed classes. You will change your mind 10 times before you have a real career direction.
This. Also I don't think any one of us can suggest a career path for you. You know you better than anyone. Do your research and don't just jump into anything. You have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Ok...I'm 27, STILL in college and have about $35k in student loans thus far...
DO go to school. Take the basic classes required of all majors. While you're doing that, find something other than Taco Bell if you can. Or in addition to a food service job.
There is nothing wrong at all with your current job, but try to find something you THINK you might want to expand on, or get involved in the field.
Become involved in clubs on campus. Maybe an academic type sorority to meet new people with new ideas.
This is coming from someone who did none of the above.
I changed my major 10 times, have classes on my transcript that cost me money but don't count for anything, etc.
I have an Associate, took off 2 years. Went back, took another year off at some point. Dropped classes due to non-interest. I did it all wrong lol.
At this point I refuse to quit now as I owe money. And I refuse to pay for college when I didn't even get a degree. Backwards, maybe.
Good luck!! Also, don't count out technical school, hair school, etc. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| BS Hauler - 2017-01-23 3:36 PM
How about being an Ag teacher
I have been teaching 41 years. Being an Ag teacher is not a good choice. Ag and Homemaking (Consumer science) are the dumping ground for all the morons and behavior problems. Our AG teachers don't last the entire year. I taught Homemaking for years, got wise and switched to Chemistry. |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Tiffany1261 - 2017-01-23 1:29 PM
Hey y’all, Im a senior in high school this year and getting ready to go into college. Here’s my problem I really don’t know what I want to do in life yet like job wise. I was wondering if y’all had any suggestions? I guess I should tell y’all a bit about me and my goals in life. I’ve been told that I’m a very easy person to talk to and to get advice from. I currently work at taco bell and I really enjoy getting to know the customers and talking to them. I love working with livestock because I showed lambs and goats throughout high school and loved helping kids who didn’t know as much as I did. School wise I hate math and economics. My favorite classes was history and ag. I really enjoyed U.S. and Texas history the best. If y’all have ideas, suggestions, or questions just let me know. Thank y’all!
Check out Texas State Technical College or a community college. |
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Regular
Posts: 59
| It's totally ok going into college and not knowing what you want to be. I wanted to be a journalist. I started college and found out that I really didn't like writing as much as I thought I would so I switched my major to public relations and event management. After college I worked for an event center for a few years and learned that putting on events means you not only have to work Monday through Friday but also most weekends. While I was putting on events I had to learn the basics of photoshop and such to make flyers and advertise for events. Now I'm a graphic designer for a marketing company. Totally different than where I started or what I went to school for. The classes I found that have helped me the most were my general business and communication classes. Learning how to conduct yourself in a business atmosphere is the best thing you can do for yourself and gives you the flexibility to pretty much be anything you want to be. Good luck! |
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Location: No Man's Land | I have taught Ag for 16 years and I will say that it is not a job for everyone and it is absolutely nothing like it used to be. It is rewarding but it is also grueling on a person (mentally, physically and financially).
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Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I graduated early and figured I would take a year off and start with my graduating class. Last minute my Mom encouraged me to apply, I didn't even have my ACT's back yet. But I was accepted. I originally went with law school in my head. You can major in just about anything and I wanted whatever I majored in, I wanted it to be something I could find a job in if law school didn't work vs going pre-law. I majored in Journalism w/minor in Animal Science. Then I realized the journalism curriculum was broadcast based so I flip flopped them. Then I realized there was nothing I could do with that combo, realistically anyway. I switched schools, got my 2 year in paralegal and a 4 year in criminal justice. Best decision I ever made.
Moral of the story, you will change your mind. But start with generals, so when you change your mind, you aren't wasting a bunch of money. And remember you get elective credits. So I took a journalism class and a reining class as electives and didn't "waste money." |
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Member
Posts: 8
| Research Court Reporting and Closed Captioning jobs. If you like English, Current events, Law, you might be interested. It's not a mainstream job, so not a lot of young people know anything about it. The need for new court reporters and captioners is there, and there aren't a lot of people going into that field. Schools are now mostly online. These jobs can give you flexibility in your work schedule and the pay isn't bad either, especially in closed captioning and certain areas of the country in court reporting. Just putting that out there. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I think teaching Ag depends on the district you teach in - my sister in law is an Ag teacher/FFA advisor and loves it. But in her district she has primarily Farm kids who truly want to be there.
I also work in Ag as a merchandiser. You do need to have a grasp on economics, but my day to day work is much more about developing relationships over anything else. I majored in Ag economics and I have an associates in agronomy. Agronomy may be another field to look at, but can be long hours in the spring and early summer if you're in the field.
I had no clue what I wanted to do when I graduated high school - but I did not want to keep working at Fazoli's. I started my career in animal Agbusiness, but hated animal science classes. The rest I guess is kind of history, I still shake my head and wonder how I ended up here, but I love my job most days. |
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 Queen Bee Cat Owner
Posts: 3629
Location: Way up North | I highly suggest looking at current job openings and their requirements for the area you wish to live in. Unless you are looking to relocate, the area you live in will limit what is marketable.
I will say I hated math and art in high school and those are the two subjects I use everyday (I am an office manager/bookkeeper by day and tack maker by every spare moment) so I wouldn't rule anything out based on not liking it in high school. I went to school for Business Management, it had a variety of accounting, marketing, HR, etc., which has been nice for both my regular job and starting my own business. While I do not enjoy my day job, living in a rural area with limited options, my degree has been useful and applicable to jobs in my area and helps pay the bills. |
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 I'm Cooler Offline
Posts: 6387
Location: Pacific Northwest | I recently started working for the State in the Department of Agriculture. Right now I deal with pesticide licensing but might move to something different. It's a great job. Building is closed by 5, weekends off, all holidays off (and paid), retirement and benefits. I lucked out because I just got my AA. A lot of the better paying jobs require some sort of degree but at least I got my foot in the door, and hopefully will continue to move up until experience will outweigh education lol.
I would look at jobs and see what they require. I wish I would have done that. I would have had a better idea of where to direct my schooling and not been stuck in retail for so long. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I'll be the oddball. I don't agree with going to college just for the sake of going to college. Don't "go until you figure it out." Especially if you are paying your own way or taking out student loans to go. If you have a college fund, then by all means... Use it.
But there are a lot of great jobs that do not require a 4 year degree. And the statistics on people who are drowning in student loan debt are staggering, not to mention the stats on people who do not end up working in their degree field.
The captioning job already mentioned is a great one. My cousin is a captioner and makes 6 figures a year. Dental hygienist is another that comes to mind. Great salary (avg $70k a year), lots of job growth right now, and every dental office I know is closed Friday-Sunday.
I just encourage you to do some research. |
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Folks on-line