When I was around 10 years old, I spent as many Saturdays as I could going to work with my Dad. Apparently in my younger days I was a morning person because we would spend the entire hour drive talking. Along with teaching me why bridges ice faster than roads, I remember one conversation like it was yesterday. That particular morning my Dad spent the car ride explaining to me the difference between a job and a career. Basically a job is something that pays the bills and a career is something that you are passionate about.
I honestly thought that working at Honda as a service advisor was my career. I loved working with people and I especially loved learning about cars. As I've said before, I get bored very easily and this job kept me on my toes. There was always a different situation I had to tackle and there was constantly something new to learn. For the longest time I brushed off the stress level this job was bringing me to, how angry and miserable I was once I finally made it home for the night, and that awful feeling I had every morning when it was time to go to work.
Eventually though, it all caught up with me to make for a pretty miserable time. I took a week off of work to collect my thoughts and feelings. I couldn't keep my job and go back to school. I already worked 50+ hours a week and I stayed exhausted. But, I had bills to pay and lord knows school is not cheap. Despite all the obstacles that stood in my way I knew that for my sanity and health I needed to go back to school. To switch careers to something I was passionate about. Something that would involve helping people. I want to make a difference for others and for myself.
July 22nd I quit my high paying job to get my associates degree in Human Services. I haven't decided exactly how I am going to narrow it down. I would love to work in a prison helping with substance abuse, or become a social worker. I also have considered working with the mentally ill, or with children with mental disorders.
I am using all this free time I have now to figure out exactly who I am and what I want to do with the rest of my life. I am extremely thankful for this opportunity although it comes with many sacrifices.
“Do one thing every day that scares you.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
I love your dad's definitions of career and job! That's a perfect way to look at it. Also, I have my bachelor's in social work. You'll figure out what you wanna do; the beauty of a Human Services degree is that there's a lot you can do with it :)
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