FED UP with career
Q: I read your article entitled “What would you do with a cash windfall?” I must say that I do share similarities with persons you spoke of. I’m a 25-year-old high school teacher who has been teaching for five years now and, already feel like one of those people in their “forties fed up with their career choices but are stuck with them”.
What do I do? – Jaded Teacher
A: Thank you for reading the Career section of The Gleaner. As a young person, it is good that you continue to read to keep yourself updated.
It might seem like it is sad that you feel like you are in your forties and fed up in your career choices but are stuck with them. After all, you have been teaching for only five years. It might seem like a bad thing, but knowing what you don’t like doing is a step closer to what you like doing – that is, if you are willing to hear what the job is telling you and you have the courage to act.
The fact is that you are relatively young, at 25. Imagine 15 years of doing what you are doing. That is not a good picture to focus on.
But before all of that, you are a relatively young person and have discovered what you don’t like. Don’t consider any of the five years wasted. It is a valuable experience. The first piece of advice I’d like you to consider is to give this job 100 per cent. Be very careful to put everything you have into this job, including being there for the students over and beyond the expected time. Some persons consider that because they don’t like it and are planning to leave, they can slack off, they must just do the minimum. Don’t do that.
GET OUT PLAN
Beyond this, however, you must plan on getting out. You are young, so that is a plus.
Identify what you would like to do. To do this, ask yourself, what do I enjoy doing that I would do for free? What am I really fantastic at or could get like that about?
The final thing to ask yourself is, where is there a need that I could do what I love and what I am good at to solve and get paid?
Then, make a career out of that occupation. Look around where you see someone engaged in something close to what you would like to do. Get a feel for the area by talking to them.
Do not be afraid to embrace new opportunities. In addition to your regular studies, don’t neglect to study on your own. Get the books Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, Secrets of The Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker, and If Caterpillars Can Fly by Alvin Day and make them your study for the remainder of the year.
You need to learn some things that you will never learn at school. They are crucial to whatever you hope to do. They are also important if you don’t want to get stuck in a career in your forties that you are feeling fed up of.
Good luck to you!