Hoping someone with experience could help me here.

Parents Forum
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<p>I'm at my last quarter in college, and as for where to go next, I feel stuck in a rut. I'm not sure if this is the right area to post this, but I don't even know where to go. I'm just hoping someone with some experience and wisdom could provide me with some advice.</p>

<p>This question has always mulled over in my head, yet I am never able to come to a conclusion. It seems as if I'm waiting for the perfect answer so that I could make all the right choices, but this keeps wrestling me back and forth (and nothing will be perfect anyway right?).</p>

<p>I've always been interested in drama and literature and thought I would grow up to be an actress. But with little confidence and support, I was afraid to. However, as of late, I signed up for some drama classes, took some video production courses, and went to some shootings as an extra. While I loved the experience of some of being in some of these situations, the thought of doing this my whole life absolutely depressed me. I couldn't see myself as a people person. I didn't like the kind of people (or at least the stereotypes) associated with this field. And the lack of monetary gain worried me. Also, I feel a bit arrogant when I feel I can go on stage and people have to watch me. All in all, I don't know if spending all those years pursuing acting will be worth it. However, I continue to express interest in reading and watching plays, and I yearn to write my own. I know I also love writing and reading, but I want real co-workers and a tangible office space. I keep wondering whether I shouldn't go back for graduate school for playwriting or dramatic literature. But I don't really like teaching, and I feel I don't really need to pay hefty money for something I can do once I free up some time. </p>

<p>On the other hand, I am starting to gain interest in informatics and library science, but particularly informatics. However, since I don't have the degree or experience, I don't know where I can go with this. Sometimes I worry whether I am just turning to this because I couldn't pursue my real dream of acting. Then again, when I think about acting, I don't really want to do it (which explains my actions of straying away from it, possibly). But informatics is a good field, I'm pretty sure it's much more stable than acting. But I just can't tell if I'm just turning to this as a last resort or because I feel forced to pick up something to move on with the next stage of my life. I would hate it if I spend all that time learning this just to find out that I regret it when I'm in my 40s. With my concerns, I feel unable to make my next choices. </p>

<p>Sorry for the dreadful length of this post, but I felt like it was necessary to express my full concerns. Thank you for reading and have a nice thanksgiving.</p>

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<p>What about getting a Master in Information Science degree?</p>

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<p>I suggest going into the work world after college and getting a job --any job – while you pursue some of your various interests by taking workshops, classes at community college, etc. </p>

<p>You’ll learn a great deal about yourself and the kind of activities/fields that make you happy, and you won’t waste your money and time on going to grad school for a field that you may not like.</p>

<p>I also suggest that you use the resources at your college career counseling service. More than likely, they have some assessments that you can take that will give you some information about what kind of careers might suit your interests.</p>

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<p>I second the advice about getting a job and taking a few years to decide what you want to get an advanced degree in. If you decide to go with library science or infomatics (I have not idea what that is!) or something else entirely, you can always get involved with community theater to satisfy your passion.</p>

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<p>Also, don’t forget that you’re not required to make a lifelong choice - most people transition through several career fields these days. And many successful actors and writers have held “normal” jobs while learning their craft. No career is, or should be, a straight jacket!</p>

<p>I agree with NSM, get out there and see what type of work you enjoy doing. You may even find a job with tuition benefits if you need more education.</p>

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<p>I second mom2sons on the community theater suggestions. In mid-sized to larger cities, there are so many acting opportunities available, often in high-quality productions. (It isn’t all “Annie” or “The Sound of Music” - thankfully.) In our metro area, there are perhaps 15 amateur theater companies, some of which hire professional directors or choreographers from NYC. It seems as if a new play opens every other weekend, and few of them are staged in the traditional high school setting - there are several local small theaters that serve as venues. Some people I know go from show to show, playing important, challenging roles in Shakespeare, contemporary theater, musicals. etc. They have more opportunities to play dream roles than many professional actors do. So you don’t have to feel as if your love for acting will go unexpressed.</p>

<p>Acting as a career is a tough, tough go. Professionals say that, if you can imagine yourself doing anything else, you probably should.</p>

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<p>Yes, get a job and do community theatre on the side!</p>

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<p>Library Science and Informatics are almost always graduate programs. You can enter the field from any undergraduate degree field because there are specific needs for librarians for every academic field, as well as reference, young adult, and children’s librarians for local libraries. For some ideas about the field, take a look at:</p>

<p>[Why</a> you should fall to your knees and worship a librarian | Librarian Avengers](<a href=“http://librarianavengers.org/worship-2/]Why”>Why you should fall to your knees and worship a librarian - Librarian Avengers)</p>

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<p>While you said you wseren’t sure you liked teaching, you would perhaps gain a lot of self-confidence if you took a year or two after college to work for TeachAmerica. Many college kids are doing this and I’ve ehard wonderful things about the program. Then you can do that community theater on the side as others have suggested and see if it is what you want. Could you also volunteer at your local library or at the library or perhaps a large law firm? That might help you see if you want to pursue Library Science. You mentioned liking the idea of an office/business environment with colleagues. Library science might not give you that feel, but working in a law firm or something like that might. Then, you can always go back to school if you find that none of this appeals to you, but Informatics and CS does. What is your college major?</p>

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<p>I’m a recent grad and I have a lot friends in your same boat, so I guess I have experience? Basically, I second the suggestion that you should not focus on getting it all figured out right now. Think in short steps. Step 1) where do you want to live after graduation? Where has always appealed to you? I would recommend a city with public transportation and a diversified economy, but if the country is more your thing, go that way. Step 2) Get a job. Any job. Of course if you start networking now you might be able to get a really good/stimulating job, but don’t bank on that and don’t be frustrated if it doesn’t happen, you just need to earn money. I highly recommend temp agencies if you have some experience in office work. It’s a good way to start working right away, and you can probably land a temp to hire job (my roommate did this). Pays enough to live on, the hours are pretty regular, and not going to be your job forever. Or just get any job, waittress, be a secretary, the best would be if you could get work in a library or at some kind of literacy oriented organization, but if you don’t have much on the resume move on to step 3) volunteer. Once you have a littel financial stability, volunteering is a great way to explore fields like library science and make good contacts. If you move to DC, you might even be able to volunteer at the Library of Congress where you can probably learn more about the many different jobs librarians have than anywhere else. Volunteer at different kinds of libraries: presidential libraires, science libraries, art libraries, libraries with museums attached, whatever. And you’ll still have plenty of time to take play writing workshops and write/act on the side. That’s why you have the pays the bills but doesn’t eat up my clock time job. </p>

<p>Do that for a year to two years, while you figure out your next step. It’s a pretty short period of time, and it gives you breathing space to plan grad school or whatever. </p>

<p>Also, If you don’t feel that teaching is your calling, I would strongly caution against Teach for America. It is VERY difficult thing to do well, and even though they train you and offer you support, you sink or swim depending mostly on yourself, and a lot, a LOT of the teachers in this program sink. Also, it’s not something that leaves much room for stuff on the side, between planning lessons and being continually exhausted with the daily effort of teaching hard to teach kids on only a few weeks of summer training. My friend tried to do it, she liked teaching, didn’t think it was her calling for sure, but wanted to volunteer and make difference, and she ended up dropping out because it was just too much to handle.</p>

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<p>^^^ :eek: :eek: Maybe Americorps is a better idea.</p>

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<p>Be sure to spend lots of time in career counsleing office. Grasp any morsel (interivew) offered. Finding your first, second, & third job s are the hardest time in your life. It is what is is. Don’t beat yourself up-- you are moving from utopia (college life) to reality . Appreciate what you experienced, move on &carpe diem (seize the day) it will work out.</p>

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<p>The world of employment is not really organized in neat categories, the way kids are now raised to believe. I read a great article about “wise wandering” in your 20’s, which means sort of exploring freely with a consciousness at the same time that guides your exploration in some way. </p>

<p>This article made the point that deciding on a narrow category of employment too early (and you are graduating, so this may not apply as much to you, although your confusion would seem to say that for you, personally, it is still too early) can actually limit opportunities over the long term, since the most natural direction for a career might be uncovered if you were able to remain more open (and indecisive!) for longer.</p>

<p>I would take any job that even approaches your interests, and go from there. Also, volunteering, if you have the time and energy, can really help with figuring out what you want to do, and can sometimes also help you get a job, at the place where you are employed. My husband and my brother have had jobs they liked for 20 years now,which started with volunteering.</p>

<p>I wonder if you would enjoy arts management, fundraising, that kind of thing. You could volunteer for an arts organization, theater or museum perhaps, or in a library if library science still interests you.</p>

<p>Allow yourself a few years. It really is one of the toughest times in life. For many people it can take all of the 20’s to get settled into something. Enjoy the process as much as you can…</p>