Posted by Mikko on October 29, 2001 at 00:35:54:
In Reply to: What to do with my life... posted by Tim on October 28, 2001 at 22:53:16:
1.) Like what I am doing 2.) Be very financially stable 3.) Help others 4.) Pick a career that I am capable of doing (i.e. Am I smart enough?) Sorry for rambling on and on, but if others of you have been in this situation, or are currently, I would really appreciate some feedback on what the hell you think I could/should consider doing. Decisions, decisions. I am a true 2/ESFJ, I don't mind decisions, but I like to make them quickly, and feel good after I have made them. It's just not that easy regarding this.
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Hello Tim,
you seem to be dealing with the same problems as I did for a long time. What I'm going to tell you is based on my opinions, experiences and preferences and it might not work for you, but at least you'll get some ideas.
First of all, you don't know what "career path" to choose. I assume that as you a junior in college, you are in your very early 20s. Many people don't know what they really want to do at that age, but choose something anyway. Others do know and go for it. Those are the most common options, but have you considered not choosing anything yet? Just because you're majoring in elementary education doesn't mean you have to work in that field.
You said everything suggests that the social field is the right one for you, but that's a really broad description. Counseling and secreterial work really aren't too much alike. What could help you is finding out if you like to do conrecte office work, deal with papers and so forth or if you just like talking to people and helping to sort out their problems. Visit www.assessment.com it's a good site.
As you are an ESFJ you probably tend to define yourself by your social role and what you do in relation to others. There's nothing wrong with that, but keep in mind that other people's expectations aren't what might be the best for you. That applies also to that "Two and ESFJ = social work" stereotype. If you know it's the right field for you, good. If you feel like there's something 'off' about the idea of you in a job like that, try to be honest with you and find out what that something is. Most likely an unconscious knowledge of that you'd like something else better.
Ok, your list of what you require from your career or job:
1) Like what I am doing
--Of course. But many people do choose something they don't like just in order to choose something. Not choosing and getting along by doing something else for a while is a decision too.
2) Be very financially stable
--I understand that means a regular job/ok pay rather than a free lance job/irregular and occasionally really good pay.
3) Help others
--That you can do in just about any job. The question is do you want to help people directly or if knowing you've helped them enough?
4) Pick a career that I am capable of doing
--If you like something you are most likely capable of doing it too, so I wouldn't worry about this too much if you stay honest to yourself.
I hope what I said above gives you at least some ideas. The last thing I can say is that letting your life to shape itself to some point is sometimes better than trying to force it into a certain kind of unnatural mould. Humans aren't bonzai trees.
Mikko