Leah writes:
I am a student in high school and I have no clue what I want to do when I get older, if you know of any sites or anything please inform me of them. Thanks a lot; this has really been bothering me lately and I really don’t know what else to do….
The Career Doctor responds:
Leah, the good news is that you have many years to figure out exactly what you want to do with your life — and even then, most experts predict that people will change their careers five times over their lifetimes… so, take a deep breath and relax.
What you should really do is examine your strengths — that is, what you’re good at in school. And then examine what you enjoy doing. Then spend some time thinking about types of jobs that might incorporate these skills and strengths. You might also consider taking a few of these career assessments, which are another tool in helping you discover what you’re good at and what you like to do.
Are you planning to go to college? Most studies show that people with a college education make a much higher income than those with just a high-school diploma, so you should be looking in this direction. If you know you are going to college, then you need to look at colleges that offer majors or minors in the subjects that most interest you. For example, if you have an interest in journalism as a career, there are some fantastic journalism schools around the country.
There are lots of college sites, but I recommend you start at mine. If you go to College Planning Resources for Teens, you find original articles about choosing a college, strategies for visiting colleges, and choosing a college major — as well as links to the best college-related sites for teens.
Remember, no choice you make today is irreversible — you have plenty of time to discover what you really want to accomplish in your life.
