College and Career Questions?

Question

I have a few questions hoping to get some honest but hopefull answers. I am so confused about what career choice to make. Most people in high school have a general idea of what they want to go to college for and pursue and accomplish it. Me, well its a different story. I dont really know what I want to do as far a career goes. Does that mean I lack motivation? Are online colleges good ? Im just so confused and I've been confused for 2 years and havent pursued anything due to that. My other goal would be to be a translator. But heres my problem. I was raised in a foster home which didnt speak spanish. So unfortunately I forgot some words but its not extreme to the point where I feel I have to take classes. So how do I get spanish speaking in my daily life to pick it back up. I can tell you what 2 people are saying. But there are some words I havent forgotten, like on the tip of my tongue. Thats how my spanish is. Takes me a monent to remember the word.

by the way im not young. I should of posted that in my question. I have been out of highschool since 1998 lol. Im 27 years old. Single parent as well

Answer 1

First of all, 27 is still young! It sounds as if you are at a crossroads and thinking about your future. If you are a single parent, you certainly don't lack motivation. Between working and caring for your child, you probably haven't had much time to think, "Gee, let's think, what would I like to do...?"

The nice thing about college is that it gives you a chance to learn about many different topics. Do you like studying and learning? Do you enjoy reading and writing? If so, college might be a good choice. I've never taken an online course, but I personally prefer the structure and support of a physical place. (Plus, the online courses that I have looked at seemed very expensive.)

You might be surprised to find out that many colleges have arrangements for women with children, even on-campus daycare centers. You would probably be eligible for grants, loans, and work study jobs to help with the cost. It sounds as if you have had some unusual experiences in your background. If you feel comfortable sharing these, you may be eligible for different scholarships.

As far as what to do, think about your strengths. What do you most enjoy? Do you like numbers? Enjoy working with people? Translating could be very interesting to pursue. Try to find a conversational partner who could help you to remember your Spanish. Depending on the field you would like to pursue, there might be specialized words and vocabulary that you would have to learn anyway. (If you were translating at a hospital, for instance, you would need to learn some medical terminology that you probably never learned as a child.)

Good luck! You have a wonderful future ahead of you. Keep thinking and dreaming, and you will find what you want to do.

Answer 2

Part of the point of going to college is to figure out what it is you want to do as a career. When deciding on a direction to go in, remember that more and more people make multiple career changes during their lifetimes, and will even go back to school in their 40s to completely change direction - so don't feel that you have to make a choice and stick with it forever. Online colleges are not generally well respected, and seeking a degree in that way makes it to where you miss out on a lot of the important aspects of college life. Try going to a land-based college somewhere, even if it's a community college. This will allow you to take classes in general areas and see what you are most interested in, while also helping you work towards an eventual bachelor's degree by getting your general education classes and the like out of the way.

Try to get internships/part-time jobs/research positions as soon as you can, as these experiences will help you to find out what area you would really like to work in. If you are thinking about being a translator, find a position which requires bilingual skills, and you will learn on the job.

There is also the possiblity of taking a year off after high school to travel/do community service/work/or whatever you think would help you find a good role in the world. You could look into programs which allow you to travel to Spanish-speaking areas to do community service projects, as this would certainly help your Spanish while improving your resume and making you a stronger person. You could also look into travelling to Spain, Mexico, Central or South America for a year or half a year - there are various scholarships and programs that offer this sort of deal. Talk to your guidance counselor at school to see if they can offer you more information about this sort of program.

Most importantly, don't close the door on your opportunities. Keep as many options open as possible so that if you find yourself suddenly interested in a new area, you won't need to start from scratch. Good luck.

Answer 3

My advice? Don't worry! You're still young! So many people put so much pressure on choosing a career...when you aren't even ready to figure out who you are! You don't have to declare a major until you're a junior, and the first 2 years are filled with gen-ed classes anyway.

Don't do the online college buzz. You're going to WANT to go to college and stay in the dorms--it's not as scary as it sounds at first. You're going to have fun if you let yourself grow a little bit

As for being a translator--you'll need a degree in that language you're wanting to translate. To to college for Spanish. No problems there.

Don't worry about it yet though! Stay away from online college, don't put pressure on chosing a future career, and just enjoy yourself! Find a college in state, try to get as many scholarships as you can, and just have fun.

Even if you're not young, you don't need to worry. I just graduated and realized I'm in the wrong degree. Or not. I don't know. Just relax and follow what fits you best!