Wwyd?

[run it, ride it]

I'm in my second-last semester for a BA in critical analysis in literature/media ("English"). I know what I don't want to do: teach, or have a desk job. Journalism at this point is not appealing to me, though I do have a knack for non-fiction prose.

I took the career tests... Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Survey. The Strong said I should go into law inforcement, across the board. Second choice was parks and recreation. What a cruel joke: I currently work in parks and recreation. The whole 'recreation' part? I'd rather it not factor in. Law enforcement: I call them in for backup when I'm tired of dealing with a situation. I respect what they do, but its not something I could handle on a daily basis. Too much 'general public' contact exhausts me, and the conflict... no way. I'd burn out and break down.

Well, the MBTI test agreed with me, resoundingly: "you should absolutely NOT got into law enforcement." It proceeded to suggest a slew of computer desk jobs. I was already all over that and minored in Computer Science for a while--no go. Not my thing.

Throughout my undergrad, I took a collection of anthro, psych, soc... too much research. Minored in drama--love the technical aspect, love carpentry and costumes and getting absolutely filthy. But the hours and the pay? I'm better off cleaning washrooms. Minored in music--again, hours and the pay... unless I become a famous rock star...

I want to be a cultural theorist. I love theory. I could be a professor if it weren't for the research. I just want to theorize in prose and say, 'forget language and forget research.' I would eradicate essays and theses, revamp the entire education system into problem-based learning models. I think the first part is called creative writing, and the second part is called med school. Former won't pay the bills.

Both tests suggested jobs in the medical field--I need an even balance of mind work and physical work. I'm interested in nutrition, kinetics. I certainly wouldn't mind working with athletes. My dream job might be vet tech for large animals--but literally, my current job cleaning washrooms pays more.

So I'll be headed into my fifth year for round two of the undergrad: science. It's the only thing I haven't tried. If that falls through... well, I want at least an MA in something, so I'll have to think of a research topic in English. Preferably something from THIS time period, about sex. My best writing is about sex. I always wanted to be a sexologist (ahh, but the research). A sexual theorist is the next best thing.

My parents have told me I'm a good candidate for med school--they know what they're talking about: my father is a physician and my mother is on the interview selection committee for the province's med schools. I have nothing to lose by applying, so I probably will.

I've mentioned money. Money in and of itself is not important to me, but it's required to support my sporting and equestrian habits. I want to live comfortably--more than $40 000CND. I have the resources to education to allow that. As I said--I want at least an MA, probably a PhD or at least some damned good technical training in SOMETHING. I'd be a great tradesworker. But my wrists won't hold up to farriery (see: minored in computer science--carpal tunnel). I always wanted to be a mechanic, but there aren't enough big words to sustain me.

I've got it down to a basic list of survival needs:
-Horses
-Running
-Words with more than one syllable
-Sunlight
-Lake/ocean

So if anyone has any suggestions...

(Apologies for the novel--English degree. Go figure.)

[rocknrollgirl]

I was just reading this with DH next to me pondering out loud...what career would I want if I were not a teacher...

He says.....The wife of a fly fishing guide.....

That is why we have been married for 19 years...he is cute and FUNNY!!!!


Ruth

[hsmpcycle]

I've got it down to a basic list of survival needs:
-Horses
-Running
-Words with more than one syllable
-Sunlight
-Lake/ocean

So if anyone has any suggestions...

(Apologies for the novel--English degree. Go figure.)

After reading your post and looking at the above list, I thought Horse Breeding/Trainer might be an option? You are working both in and outside, never a dull moment, make decent money, you travel, and it involves some dirty work.

If that doesn't sound good ( I know you said you were not intrested in being a cop), you can do what my sister-in-law does. She has a great day job, but she also works part-time in the summer with her horse as a Mounted Patrol Officer. She is not a cop, but all she does is help move traffic and handle crowds with her horse. They both had to go through some intensive training to do this ex: crowd reading, techniques, etc. It doesn't involve violence.

[Bad JuJu]

I've got it down to a basic list of survival needs:
-Horses
-Running
-Words with more than one syllable
-Sunlight
-Lake/ocean

So if anyone has any suggestions...

Hey, RIRI, there are a ton of things you can do with a degree in English. Check and see if your school have a list of them somewhere--I know we do.

As an example, my brother is ABD in English (concentration in Elizabethan studies, read "Shakespeare") and after teaching for a few years and continuing to pursue the PhD, he finally went to work for the National Marine Fisheries Service (part of NOAA) as a tech editor, working on the development of fisheries regulations. Sounds a little boring, I know, but surprise--he gets to work with a lot of fishermen, scientists, and also some attorneys, and occasionally goes on a research trip. He lives and works in Juneau, AK, but they have offices all over the U.S. He loves it and it pays big bucks.

So that's just an example--there are probably lots of other possibilities. By the way, have you ever tried teaching? When I was in my 20s, I'd have told you I'd rather have my fingernails pulled out with pliers than teach. Then I got assigned to a teaching job for a year and a half (I was in the navy then), and absolutely loved it--helped me figure out that I wanted to teach when I got out of the navy. I don't mean to say it would necessarily be the same with you--just that you might be surprised how much you like the things you think you wouldn't.

And to quote you again:
"Apologies for the novel--English degree. Go figure."

[margo49]

Boutique dairy with goats and sheep that SO would graze and milk.
Came pretty close with the kibbutz dairy - which was cows and someone else milked them.Loved it and miss it (carreer ended suddenly with a terrible accident) most days.

[GLC1968]

As a child I dreamt of being an oceanographer...then I grew up and realized that I have a strong tendency towards motion sickness. Not good.

I have one DREAM job:
action movie star
(I know...I'm weird)... it would be PERFECT for me though...physically demanding, I get to pretend (one of my favorite things to do in the world), super high intensity for a few months and then I get to do something else (like another movie or whatever)...never boring..

My realistic dream job:
Veterinarian
(I say realistic because in about 5 years I'll be bored with my current career path and I'll probably go back to school to start over...again...so I'm not ruling it out as a possibility).

[margo49]

Waiting for Kitsune's post....

[chickwhorips]

i did want to be a stunt woman for a while.

good point margo. i wonder where she is....

[DebW]

As a little kid, I wanted to be an old maid swimming teacher (I liked to swim and I had no interest in ever getting married).

In grade school I wanted to be an oceanographer, but that wouldn't have worked because I get motion sickness very easily.

In high school I wanted to be a nuclear physicist. I did complete a BS in physics but I wasn't smart enough to do that as a career. So I went to grad school in atmospheric science. Still there, but it may not last much longer as my funding dries up.

I still dream of being a bike mechanic again. It might happen. Other things I'd like to do but probably never will: paleontology (trilobites, stromatolites, etc.), evolutionary biology, glaciology.

[chickwhorips]

Waiting for Kitsune's post....

now we have it. so what to think about it.... i know how old she is and i'm even questioning it.

[HappyAnika]

I would be the one who's in charge of taking care of the polar bears at the zoo. Or any other job that would allow me to have close contact with polar bears and not have to live in the arctic.

Second would be pastry chef, mostly cakes. I seriously considered dropping out of grad school to persue this. I went through with grad school, but my current job is just not making me happy. I keep coming back to the idea of pastry chef as a later-in-life sort of thing, after my yet-to-be-born children are older.

Realistically I'd like to be a professor. I love to teach. I just have to find an area of research that interests me and that I care about, in which I can feasibly start up my own research program at a university. See? Making cakes sounds easier, doesn't it?