Doctor, Lawyer, Psychologist… and which top should I wear? Identifying my path and becoming career ready.
I am incredibly indecisive.
Even the inconsequential decisions, like deciding which top to wear, takes me thirty minutes of intense deliberation. So when it comes to deciding which career to choose from an infinite pool of possibilities, my indecisiveness shines.
A medic, a lawyer, and a psychologist walk into a bar…
Originally, I was pretty certain I wanted to do medicine, taking a gap year to ensure I was ‘absolutely sure’ (SPOILER: I wasn’t). I did a semester of Law at university. And whilst my passion for Psychology has only increased throughout my degree, a course which ‘opens many doors’ often feels as though it fails to narrow down the options.
Going into the Career Skills module, admittedly I was pretty sceptical. How could I begin to think about building towards my career, when I had no idea what that career would be? But looking back over the CV Assignment has surprised me. I remember how I had originally expected to flip a coin over which Internship Option to apply for. However, I had immediately been grasped by the Education Mentor position. I wondered why, for someone who was so indecisive, this decision was so easily made?
Reading back over the job description, it clicked.
With this realisation, positivity towards my career began to build. This realisation, combined with a desire to work with children, finally pointed me towards a career that excited me: teaching.
However, this awakening was not all rainbows.
For such a seemingly obvious match, I was confused as to why I had never considered this before? It wasn’t until a few days later, hearing a passing comment, that the realisation hit; ‘those that can, do; and those that can’t, teach.’
Dealing with disappointment
Hearing these words, I finally grasped why the connection had never been made. Being raised by parents who deemed only high-earning jobs as worthwhile, I internalised that being on a mere teacher’s salary would be a disappointment. Instead, I subliminally reached for the jobs that still catered towards my desire to help others, only aiming for the ones that were higher paying and less suited for me. And so of course, it was only once I was away from home, meeting peers with differing yet equally fulfilling career paths, that I finally recognised my aspirations to teach were actually worthy.
From here, I’ve been corresponding with several postgraduates embarking on various teaching courses and degrees, determining what my next steps are. Although there are still many hurdles, I believe the courage and confidence I’ve gained in creating my own path will guide me through these future decisions.
Whilst I continue to struggle with the smaller, outfit-related decisions, the positivity I feel in my career readiness, knowing that my chosen path reflects my goals and hopes, makes this entire process worthwhile.
