I'd like to have a profession that helps people in some way. I'm a people person. Can you suggest any jobs?

Question

I'm only fifteen at the moment, but my dream as of right now, is to become a Kindergarten teacher. There are other jobs I'd like to try, though, as a teaching job doesn't pay very well. I've thought about being a Guidance Counselor, a type of therapist- most likely physical therapy...but I am running out of ideas. I need some jobs that include working with people, especially jobs that help children...I love being around children. I've thought about being a social worker...are there any other ideas? Could you give me a list, and explain what each job includes? And how much that job pays, if you know...thanks a bunch!

Answer 1

You could become a teacher and work with kids, as some of the other people have suggested, but the only drawback there, (besides the pay, the long hours, the paperwork, the grouchy parents that you can NEVER please!!) is that once you get a degree in education, there is VERY little else you can do with it. And that's a fact that my advisor told me from the very first day!

She told all of us in the first class that we should be very sure that this was what we wanted, because once we got it, we were "stuck" with it. And, I have been teaching for 10 years, and sure enough--I've looked around for other jobs that I can use my degrees in, and all I can do is further my education with more Masters' and Ph.Ds, but unless I do that, I can't use my teaching degree to do another job.

Now, if you want a job helping others--you can become a Social worker: working for the State has some perks, like: retirement benefits, health insurance benefits and other things, but the starting pay for a social worker is VERY minimal (In Tennessee, it's about the same for a first year teacher! Very low, and the work load is ridiculous. And the job market is small!)

Nursing is not a bad way to go. One person answered that she saw lots of negativity in her job, but you could work in a different area, such as pediatrics, not Emergency Nursing. You would see lots of hurt children and it would be hard for you. My degree is in Severe/ Profound Special Education, and when I see some of my kids for the first time, it tears my heart out! But you would be able to help SO many families, and the money is way more than in teaching. You would have set hours, and not be salaried like teachers, and have very good benefits.

Maybe you could consider Missionary Work. Not a lot of pay, but your needs are taken care of, and the work that you would do is so valuable that you would learn so many lessons of a life time. You could always come back and go to school later, once you have seen more of life and have a better idea of what you'd like to do. The Peace Corps is a great way to do that. I tried, but I was too old and I had a daughter. I would have loved it, too.

Consider a career in the Air Force or the Navy. You can't get better benefits than that, and see the world, too!

Just some ideas! I think teaching is wonderful, and I am happy to do it everyday. But a lot of times I wish I had gone a different direction, especially on pay day!

Answer 2

You could start by getting your teaching degree, become a teacher for a few years. From there there are many options. You can always go back to school and get a masters in a specialized area that would make more money. By becoming a teacher you set the groundworks for a future working with children.

Answer 3

Try nursing. You'll get a belly full in no time. I'm an emergency room nurse and I help every low rent bum and free loader in the county at least twice a month. And a few true emergencies in between. But the pay isn't too bad.

Answer 4

I was a speech pathologist for years, and had many pediatric patients in hospitals. I also worked with elementary school kids in a school.
Speech pathologists are clinicians that hold masters degrees, and can work in medical settings with patients who have brain injury (traumatic or stroke), swallowing difficulty, voice disorders, head/neck cancer, cleft palate, tracheostomy, and neurologic disorders (Parkinson's, ALS, etc.). Starting salaries run to about 40,000 dollars a year (in the US).
Speech therapists, who have bachelors degrees, can work in schools with kids who stutter, have articulation problems, learning disabilities, are autistic, or abuse their voice. Starting salaries are about 30,000.
You may want to look into occupational therapy. These professionals can be employed in schools or medical settings. You only need a bachelors degree.

Answer 5

the best job, also probably the saddest job is a social worker, you get to help kids find a home or help them adapt to hard situations. its sad because they could end up in horrible situations, but it would be your job to help them. but also like you said a guidance counselor might be another good one.

Answer 6

Human Resources - recruiting for companies or training

Flight attendant

Police officer

Answer 7

teacher