Not quite sure which board this would go on…
I’m homeschooled and in 10th grade and my parents, both in the medical field of work, are starting to get me to think about college. My two older brothers had ideas since they were in middle school as to what sort of career they might want to have. Although the focus of the career has changed it is still in the same field that they thought it would be in middle school.
On the other hand, I have various ideas but my dad either says it’s going to be too hard (although one of my brothers can struggle in the music business because it’s what he wants to do and he’s happy) or he finds some other way to put it down. My mom’s somewhat more supportive but pretty traditional in career choices.
So far, I’m considering something psychology because I want to help teens but I’m also fascinated and drawn to blogging, social media, and acting. I really want to be able to do something creative and that actually calls to me more than psychology.
I do some theater locally but I’ve been dealing with major social anxiety for the past 5 years and that has made it hard to get out there more for auditions. I’d have to wait until 18 to even think about acting seriously because my parents want nothing to do with that. I take 3 dance classes a week but dance isn’t a career I’d pursue. I love it and it does help with my anxiety though. Piano is another hobby of mine.
Running a blog, youtube, social media marketing, or something of the sort would be awesome but I haven’t really found something to set my sights on. I’d really like to try my hand at short films but I don’t have any friends or connections who’d be reliable or interested. I’m thinking of making a solo one though…
I’ve been working at my neighbor’s by doing yard work for the past 3 years but now my parents said that this upcoming summer (2018) I need to get a job working with other people, but again that’s difficult for me with the anxiety. Plus, I’m afraid that if I get a job, dance and theater will be jeopardized.
We are looking into counseling for the anxiety but meanwhile, I feel very pressured about a career and college. There’s no pressure to go off to college because they’re fine with online college but it’s finding a major and a goal that’s the hard part for me. I’m doing pretty well with the curriculum we use for homeschooling and my one older brother graduated from it and is currently doing Master’s work in American History of some sort so it is a good schooling program. However, they don’t really offer much career help or advice.
Don’t do online or homeschool college. Get your anxiety worked on so you can handle a classroom. Online programs are good for nontraditional trying to get ahead in the workplace, but they aren’t a great fit for kids right out of high school. Plus, you are already struggling with trying to assert your own career ideas within the context of the family home. You need to explore fields without your parents being there to second guess everything you do.
If your state offers dual enrollment for high school students, consider doing one course at a time as a gradual transition in preparation for college.
If you don’t want your job to take away from dance, why not ask about a job at the dance studio. There are students working as class assistants, sorting tickets at recital time, and sweeping the floors at our dance studio.
First things first: attack the anxiety. Stop “looking into” getting a therapist, and find one, preferably one that takes your parent’s insurance plan and who deals with teens.
You can’t start to focus on the distant future until you have a handle one the anxiety issue. And you’re young enough that there’s no urgency to the whole college thing.
I agree with @AroundHere that an online school will only serve to enable your anxiety issues. You’ve got to find a way to function comfortably with people, in crowds, in a professional or career enviornment.
Oops, gotta run. Dinner’s almost ready and my daughter-- who also has anxiety issues-- has to work later. (She works in an ice cream parlor, kind of like a Carvel,) I’ll check in this evening.
As @AroundHere mentioned, consider a part time job in your dance studio. Ora summer job in a kid's camp. Both would give you the chance to try the whole "working with kids" thing without the committment of a college major.
Or how about a job that will enable you to work with people, but not a whole crowd? My daughter's job at an ice cream shop is a good example-- she's one of 2 or 3 people working at a time, dealing with one customer at a time. Yes, they get very busy, but it's still one customer at a time. How about the local library? Or a shop- -a pet store, a bagel store, something of that sort?
I wouldn’t suggest a major in social media marketing, as that’s a very narrow field.
A general degree in marketing and/or communications will be more useful.
I don’t think you need to pick a major at this point, you don’t really need a college list until the end of 11th. For right now, focus on your schoolwork, job search, and health.
Having a child with anxiety, I know that anxiety stops you from calling the doctor to get help for your anxiety.
Some suggestions:
Ask your parents to make the appointment. Say that you think you have anxiety and it is stopping you from doing what you want to do (e.g., drama, etc)
If they won’t do it, contact your pediatrician and ask for help. Or ask another trusted adult to help out.
Re: Major
Your Dad is giving you “advice”. Yes, some careers are harder than others. But don’t take that as you can’t do it…but that if you can think of something else to do then consider that. They are just trying (like all parents) to have you be able to get a job.
Major in what you want to major in! They may push back but it is rare for a parent to say “I won’t pay for college unless you major in X”. Also you start college with no major anyway…but if you wanted to be a pre-med then you should take sciences or if you want to be an engineer you take calculus etc.
I would suggest getting a job…(after the anxiety is addressed which you should do ASAP)…this is a low risk entry in to the work force…it is good to understand how businesses work and how to be an employee.