Deciding On A Profession

[stellati]

Oh gosh, I still struggle with what I want to do. I'm 24 years old now and have been out of high school for what...7 years now? I thought when I first graduated from High school I wanted to be a photographer, more than anything! So, I pursued that for a year and took some time off because well, I didn't like one of my photography teachers. I think she kinda jaded me with photography. So, needing to go back to school to retake that class, I took it from the same teacher, ironically, and this time around I really enjoyed it and I did well in the class. So, I took it up again. Well, my last semester of school I took a intro to multi media class because it was prerequisite for my photoshop for photographers class. In that class we covered some stuff with photoshop and other stuff and I discovered that I REALLY like graphic design! So, in January, when I was...rather harshly treated by my sister in law...I decided to move up to Gillette Wyoming. I looked and looked for a job somewhere within the artistic industry, anywhere. I found a job as a retoucher/graphic designer for a nationally acclaimed photographer. I was lucky enough to get the job! So, now with that experience under my belt, I'm thinking about opening up a business on the internet to offer my services as a skilled photoshop user. You know, a lot of people hire amateur photographers for their special events and they get back these raw image files that with the right touch, will look amazing! I could offer that service. Now, my goal is to get a degree in graphic design or maybe I'll be picked by some fashion photographer somewhere...Hollywood? NYC? Yeah, I dream big.

[Dr T]

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From as long as I can remember I said, "I'm going to be a psychologist." I thought it was "getting paid to listen to people talk" and though-"that would be a great job." I never realized all that went into that or how much schooling was invovled and other roles of the job. The rest is history.

My daughter is in her final year at college, doing the CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education. She has had placements in nurseries and infant school, as a nursery nurse and teaching assistant, but she really wants to be a Play Therapist...she hates planning lessons and loves observing the children at play and making notes about their development...

She soon has to apply to University, and wonders what is the best course to take before she can do her Post Graduate Play Therapist course...have you any ideas Doc? We thought that she would definitely need to do Psychology and maybe specialise in Child Psychology at some point, but we're not certain of which other subjects would be appropriate..

I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you Push. I haven't been reading this thread. I don't know how it works where you live. The play therapists that I know were PhD level clinicians. They became Registered Play Therapists (RPT) but I know of one masters level counselor that was starting the program. This website might be helpful or at least point you/her in the right direction. http://Association for Play Therapy/

[StrawberryFields]

While I was in High School I worked in retail at the mall and loved being around ppl. After High School I went to college in Fashion Merchandising. The school specialized in Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design and Fashion Design. My dream was to become a buyer for a large department store but that gave way to my hubbies wishes of being a stay at home mom.....

I have some time this morning so I will continue on where I left off.

When my husband and I were married I was working as an assistant buyer in a woman’s' boutique in Salt Lake City. From that job I moved into management of a men’s clothing store, which I loved. I loved managing and I loved working in the men’s clothing store. To keep us close, I even hired my husband to work for me on some nights during our busy season. I worked there until my first child was born.

After my first son was born “life” was very difficult… he had jaundice and extreme colic. He cried constantly unless I was holding him or feeding him. I was very unhappy not feeling that I could please my child and I felt like a failure as a mother. This was in the early 80's and I knew women had been given instructions to be stay at home moms. I desperately needed "an out'. One of my friends had invited me to a "Home Interiors and Gifts" home party. I left that party knowing I had found my next link to a career. I approached my husband about selling this product and of my initial investment etc. It took some doing but I finally convinced him to let me have this new "hobby". I sold "Home Interiors and Gifts" for the next 12 years! I excelled and was always in the top ten in sales. I did this throughout my next two babies and it was a great career for me. I found much satisfaction in this career and I made many friends, life was good. There came a point when my husband felt I should let it go, he was tired of having 'freight' all over our home and tired of feeling like he was competing with my career. I decided that I needed to let him be the one that would shine in our family and I needed to support him. I let my career go and became my husbands’ wife again. My husband was advancing in his career and we had just moved into our current home in a new area. I helped him go into an area of my interest and I feel we worked as a team; I became his silent partner. It was a few years ago, that I went back to work again because I needed 'an out', something more. I went into the field of merchandising or sales rep; I loved that job as well. I did that until I felt that I needed to let that go for the greater good of my daughter who needed some extra mom time. She had become a bit lost after Nicks accident she was just 14 when our world came crashing down and everything changed. As a family we decided that she needed a new start, we had a home 4 hours away so her and I moved there and she completed a year and a half of her High School there out of the shadow of what had occurred. This was a very good move for all of us and I feel very blessed to having been able to do that.

Now, as things start to settle down a bit I am thinking that once I get their careers going (my childrens) I can focus on something I want to do again. I am thinking on the lines of going back to being a sales rep because I loved that and I could create my own hours. I am also thinking of going back to school and becoming an Interior Designer. My 12 years selling "Home Interior and Gifts" has given me a love for making homes a place of beauty. This love also carries over to my love for merchandising/sales rep.

I think this is a great topic and I am still learning more about you who are sharing of your experiences. :)

[pushka]

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From as long as I can remember I said, "I'm going to be a psychologist." I thought it was "getting paid to listen to people talk" and though-"that would be a great job." I never realized all that went into that or how much schooling was invovled and other roles of the job. The rest is history.

My daughter is in her final year at college, doing the CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education. She has had placements in nurseries and infant school, as a nursery nurse and teaching assistant, but she really wants to be a Play Therapist...she hates planning lessons and loves observing the children at play and making notes about their development...

She soon has to apply to University, and wonders what is the best course to take before she can do her Post Graduate Play Therapist course...have you any ideas Doc? We thought that she would definitely need to do Psychology and maybe specialise in Child Psychology at some point, but we're not certain of which other subjects would be appropriate..

I'm sorry for the delay in getting back to you Push. I haven't been reading this thread. I don't know how it works where you live. The play therapists that I know were PhD level clinicians. They became Registered Play Therapists (RPT) but I know of one masters level counselor that was starting the program. This website might be helpful or at least point you/her in the right direction. http://Association for Play Therapy/

Hi Dr. T. Thanks for your reply, unfortunately the link to the Assoc. for Play Therapy isn't working? Do you think you might have typed it incorrectly? Thanks for the extra information you supplied.

Edited to add, I've managed to look up the site on Google now, and found the British equivalent...thanks for putting me onto it! :)

[Guest WhoShotJS]

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