<p>I've been back and forth between Early Childhood Education (PreK-4, Special Ed: PreK-8), which I can do at a lot of schools closer to home (family medical issues prevent me from looking very far). I love little kids to death (not literally lol) and think I would love to spend my life teaching them, but an issue my dad brought up is the pay/districts' pay cuts...Do you think it's a good idea to get into a profession that's supposedly on the rise, but currently downsizing? (Keep in mind I still have a year of high school, but this affects which colleges I apply to.)</p>
<p>P.S. The other major I was between was International Studies (MidEast) with hopes of making it into the FBI/other agencies under language, etc. I know that's hard but if I do decide that Education's not working out, you think I could get a master's in a language and at least make it into the government's job force? lol I'm just tired of thinking about all of this XD</p>
<p>Wow, those are not even remotely similar! If your brain is hurting from too much analysis, then stop. At your age, how can you pick a career based on your high school classroom experience? Instead of mental analysis, why don’t you try to find some opportunities to shadow people working in your areas of interest? It would be easy to shadow a teacher or tutor students, or even volunteer at a summer camp. Maybe you could find some way to explore government work. Perhaps your local police department has some program for kids to familiarize themselves with law enforcement careers (I know that’s not FBI, but it is local and it is accessible.) As a side note, unless you are already fairly fluent in a middle eastern language, that would probably not be a viable option as you probably cannot gain fluency in four years.</p>
<p>Here is an answer that might cover all bases: major in a language and get a teaching certificate. That would afford you the options of either teaching (learn an additional language that is needed in public schools) or pursuing the government work.</p>
<p>*Do you think it’s a good idea to get into a profession that’s supposedly on the rise, but currently downsizing? *</p>
<p>As far as I have heard- they are still making children, who need to be educated. Unlike other professions they have not found a way to offshore all elements of education, particulary K-12 education.</p>
<p>I think that getting a BA & then getting your teaching certificate is preferable to a BA in education- that will give you more flexibility & better pay.</p>