Hello Mentees. I hope everyone is hangin in there. We are down to our last couple weeks so stay strong! Today I will be talking to you about my personal philosophy concerning my professional life and a couple other related topics.
My thoughts regarding my career and future goals are not very well defined. My fist goal is to get a job, almost any job. I am not to picky I just want to enjoy it. I am not looking to make a lot of money right now, just enough to pay bills. I have never had a real job so I want a fun college type job. After a year or so I hope to find another opportunity that is a little more professional and that pays a bit more or, what my ultimate goal is to start a business. So to sum up my personal philosophy I would say to start with something that is fun from then find a related opportunity that you can graduate to or let that position bring opportunities to you. I think if you are doing something that is fun a lucrative opportunity will come if you are ready and paying attention.
This idea is interdisciplinary because it is open to many types of opportunities. My education allows me to take a wide variety of opportunities which I am excited about. My career goals have changed so much in the past 4 years I can not even remember some of the ideas I have had. I think that is why I want to get a fun job and keep my eyes open for other better opportunities.
Now that I have told you my thoughts on career philosophy please let us know and make some posts about your feelings. I am sure many people have completely different thoughts on this and some of you will not relate to my thoughts at all. Some of you will have much more defined goals which is great. I believe my thoughts are the way they are because I have not truly figured out what I want to do yet. Tell us your career philosophy and goals and be as specific as you can. I look forward to hearing from you.
Peter
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I think that it's very rare to find a student that knows exactly what they want in their first college years. I think that as we start taking courses we can have a better picture of what we want or sometimes decide that we don't like a subject anymore or that is not what we thought it was. I don't think changing your path is never a bad decision, change is always good and you can (most of the times) go back to whatever you started in the beginning.
ReplyDeletePaloma Peraza
I can say that from my teen years I knew that I wanted to be a designer, a wanted to do shoes. Many years after graduating from high school, I did it. But it took me quit some time. Coming from a latin family, when you are still 18 you still have to listen to your parents and they din't think design was going to be a "serious" career. They offered to pay my design studies but first I had to earn a degree, have a secure, serious career. so, I enroll for a BA in /criminal justice, sound interesting, but to years later I was totally depressed and hated it. Drop out of college. Still wanted to do design but din't know were to go. So I enrolled in hairstyling school, it was creative,I'm a creative person. After graduating and working for a couple of years I decided it was time for me to follow my passion. I graduated last December, still in love with shoes and with a new passion, jewelry. know I'm after a business degree. Sometimes I think that if I has started this degree when I graduated from High school, I would be over by now. But the truth is that at the moment I din't see the point. and after this long and boring statement, what I want to prove, is that I you truly have a passion if you fight for it, I will come to you. Sometimes will take you on a unknown path. If you enjoyed it, look always for the positive things, in the end you will see how much you learned and how much that ride will help you on your passion and your life.
ReplyDeletePaloma Peraza
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ReplyDeleteI honestly believe that, for the most part, my focus has remained more or less the same during my time in college. When I graduated High-School, all I wanted to do was work with computers. I wanted to be a network administrator or a database administrator, or whatever. But, in order to pay for my education, I needed a degree, and someway (or someone) to pay for my education. So, I joined ROTC, a previous interest of mine. i found this interest rekindled. So, from freshman year and onward, all i wanted to do was to be an Officer in the United States Army. From there, I could see that my dream of being a network administrator could be realized. So, my dreams found themselves intertwined and I was working toward them concurrently.
ReplyDeleteThis was what had taken place for a long time, it was my focus, my drive, my center. However, lately, i've been feeling my interests shift. Sure, I still love computers and things, but after seeing what kinds of classes were necessary in order to get my IT degree or Computer Science degree...just completely unnecessary things...i started to get pissed off and fed up with the whole thing. I find myself wishing I had followed an alternate passion of mine, like English, or History or Psychology...things which I believed I was only halfway in to. I look back now, and wish I had pursued something other than what I felt most comfortable with at the time. At the time, I had been drilled with Technology to the breaking point and only saw IT in my thoughts and field of vision. If I had taken a moment to think about what I was doing, perhaps I could be completing my degree in something a little more enjoyable right now....instead of getting a degree in something that is primarily focused on something that I'm only half-heartedly into these days.
- Totiro N. Clark II
Paloma,
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what you are saying. If you look at my post, you'll see, I had some interests that I could have followed but I didn't. It wasn't so much my parents and family in my case, but it WAS my high-school. It was a magnet school that was designed to train us specifically FOR the IT field. I ended up not being as interested in it as i had been before. But, it was too late for me by the time i realized it. I had already signed a contract with the army saying I would graduate at a specific time. I'm sure I could have changed it or dome something, but I was so locked in, so driven (I'm a person who does things to the finish, I'm stubborn like that), that I didn't care that I wasn't as interested in the field or the classes I was taking at the time. I didn't find them as interesting. Luckily for you, you broke away and did something different with your time in college and managed to gain a degree that helped you do something that truly interested you before it was too late. Good for you.
-Totiro N. Clark II
It sounds like you both are very hard workers and quite driven in your own ways to complete tasks and accomplish what you want. That is an admirable quality. Keep that up and I am sure you will continue to accomplish your goals.
ReplyDeleteI want to be an author. I also had some dreams of working for the government. I cant say that the dream is completely kaput but its on the back burner for now. I have worked for the same company for the last years and I have to admit that I am ready for a change. With the engineering background, I have more options open to me but sometimes I still just want to write books and have that be my whole life. Initially I was like you Totiro, thinking that this degree was something i just needed to finish. Now, i hope this degree will get me to a place where eventually I can write those books.
ReplyDelete-Dora Peters
Dora,
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about being in the time we are right now, is that although life get more complicated everyday, there are so many options available for the things we want to do. The thing about being creative (including writing) is that you can always start on the side as a part time when you are working a full time. And, I you really want it, I'm sure you will find a way to achieve it! Best of luck!;)
Paloma Peraza
totiro,
ReplyDeleteIf you see it from the point of responsibility, you are a winner (army contact) and if you see it from the point of doing what you liked, still a winner! If I understood well, you said you don't enjoy IT as much as you did before. But still do a little? I have a feeling that you will use all that knowledge in the army and that will help you more than you thin. Don't feel bad about not following you passion at a given point, you can always go back to them. ;)
Paloma Peraza
I guess everybody ended up in this major because of plans gone awry! I myself always loved languages ever since I was very young. My favorite classes were always the French classes. When I started my university studies I didn't think I should study languages because I didn't really want to end up as an interpreter or worse, as a teacher! So I left that and decided to go for Optometry which seemed to provide a lot of money and was not as demanding as other medical careers. But like you guys I got very bored with it and even frustrated and depressed. So I regrouped.
ReplyDelete~Ana Zuniga
My career philosophy is more along the lines of my world philosophy. Personally, I am not very interested in being rich or powerful, I do not believe happiness is dependant on those things and so I focus more on other aspects of my life.
ReplyDeleteI am studying to be a Speech and Language Pathologist so that I could integrate my love for languages with my interest in helping people. I hope to be able to provide therapy both in Spanish and English and move to another country... maybe Australia or Panama.
~Ana Zuniga
I think sometimes those passions that we have that we have to put on the back burner like Dora with writing can simply become our hobby. Personally, I still take French classes and will start on Portuguese soon if I can. Dora, maybe you can write on the side no matter what your work is, and if you come up with something awesome then maybe you get published!
ReplyDeleteLike Paloma, I think in the end things just kinda work out. In his book "The Alchemist", Paulo Cohelo says something very true, that the universe is always conspiring for you to carry out what you are supposed to be doing with your life. Everybody should read that book, it's very good! :)
~Ana Zuniga
Totiro,
ReplyDeleteI think it's very interesting you went to a HS that was geared towards IT. Where did you go to school?
With your plans to go into the Army, having an IT background and interest will be a great asset. I'm sure they will find you very valuable and will be able to build on your experience.
I also can relate with what you mean in regards to just finishing a degree. At one time, I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but when I finished my AA, I realized that I was all wrong. Then I was hired into my dream job, which put me into the mindset of I just needed to finish school just so I'd have a BS degree.
Then, my job description changed and here I am stuck in a job that the majority of the time I dislike, plus I am trying to relocate to be with my boyfriend. I desperately need this degree now; most employers won't even talk to me without having one.
Hopefully it's not too late and hopefully I have taken valuable information and education from my college experience to help me find a great job.
Good luck to you,
Kadie
Paloma,
ReplyDeleteI bet your parents were thrilled when you told them you had an interest in designing shoes AND jewelry!
Can you refresh my memory on what your IDS areas of study are again? I think going for the business degree is a great idea, not only for your dream of having your own business, but it will be a great fall-back for getting hired into other companies.
I hope you enjoy this degree :o)
Kadie
Ana,
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail on the head when you said we all ended up in this program becomes of plans gone awry, and that's possibly why so many people look down on the IDS degree. They think we're all lost, confused and maybe crazy!
Truth is, we all just realized we didn't want to be stuck in a career that we hated and got out before we were stuck, like so many people I see. I knew I didn't want to be stuck in a classroom, and this degree allowed me not to completely start from scratch, plus take all kinds of interesting things! In high school, I used to say I wish they had a degree that allowed me to take a little of this and a little of that. I wish I could continue!
I also think your interest in languages is such a great thing! The opportuntities are endless! You could travel the world, being a tour guide for cruises or trips, teach in other countries, just living in other countries is an amazing idea! I wish I had that interest and skill of learning other languages, but I just never have been able to really catch on.
You're going to have an amazing journey!
Kadie
Dora,
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of stuff do you like to write? Have you ever started writing anything with having it published in mind?
I always thought it would be great to live in a little cabin in the woods on a mountain somewhere, building my own little fires, and write all day. Write about my experiences, wishful experiences, nature, etc. It just always seemed to be the ultimate life. (That, and traveling the world knowing multiple languages.)
As Ana mentioned, maybe you can write on the side until you have something to publish. Then I can say I was your mentor in college
Kadie
You guys are right, I do write on the side now. But my times of solitude are so few and far between that I never seem to be able to string thoughts together. But Kadie, like you said, I would love to be in a little cabin in the woods, building fires and sipping hot tea as I was the sun set on my porch. I would be able to write endlessly there!
ReplyDeleteSo far I have written many short stories, nothing too long. I have worked on several drafts of a fiction novel but i am always changing something, so its not quite done. I have never written with the goal of publishing in mind. I wonder if that would change my style at all.
Thanks for the encouragement, maybe I will spend some time writing tomorrow!
-Dora Peters
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of yall. It seems as though this major is full of people who have changed majors and have many different things go on in their lives. It is interesting and most enjoyable to see all the different aspirations in life. It is so neat to have a class filled with students who have such a variety of goals. I am currently not having a certain direction. It is inspiring to see all of you striving to make all your individual dreams come true. Good work yall. Keep it up =)
~Rebe
Rebe,
ReplyDeleteI love the versatility of this major. I love that people from so many different interests can come together. I think that this major has taught me that being able to see things from different perspectives is an important tool to have. Especially for me since I am minoring in Public Administration.
I feel like this experience has allowed me to be able to bring these in as talking points during an interview or maybe even as part of a book I might write one day!
I hope you find the direction that is right for you when the time is right. Until then enjoy gathering all the knowledge and the life experience. It will make you a better candidate when the time is right for a career.
Good Luck to all of you!
-Dora Peters
Ana,
ReplyDeleteIts very interesting that you love languages. I'm just now taking german this year myself, but I wished I had learned more sooner. I had blinders on, like a horse, when I first started out at UCF, but now that I've got a major that allows me to branch out and do what I want to do, I suddenly feel liberated and like I'm actually enjoying college. You needn't have been afraid of ending up in the position of translator or interpreter I would think. Those positions would have given you plenty of opportunity to travel (if that was something that interested you) and you could have made lots of money that way, while seeing the world at the same time. Hopefully you continued your interests in language somewhat by making it your minor? Good luck to you never the less.
- Totiro N. Clark II
Being a freshman, I am not ready for a real run of the mill 40 hour a week, day-in-day-out, mundane job. What I am ready for is a simple job that will let me pay my bills and pay for some food as well. My plan as of right now is once I’ve graduated to find a job somewhere somehow with a school being an online teacher. This job will allow me to travel around the world (or around the internet accessible world) and still get paid. I’ve always had a passion for travel and with out school to worry about and a easy peasy job, I’ll finally be able to live the dream. I can’t wait.
ReplyDeleteGalen Michael Macpherson I
I do agree with you mentor, that find a job you that’s fun and dandy and a lucrative job will find its way in to your life one way or another. The trick is spotting opportunity when you see it. My philosophy is to live life in the moment; and that goes with careers as well. If you worry too much about the future, how will you take care of yourself in the present? My number one priority is happiness and if I’m not happy in the present, then how can I be happy in the future. One way of looking at is today is your past’s future, and if you don’t live your life to the fullest, you’re letting your past self down. And I don’t know about you guys but my past self gets pissed if I let him down.
ReplyDeleteGalen Michael Macpherson I
Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI might have said that living for yourself in the present is the way to go, but I don't even completely agree with myself. If you have long term goals for the future, and you think that if you complete them you'll be a better, happier person for it, then get it done. Do what it takes to make yourself happy, even if it means going through times of unhappiness or stress. Sometimes a lot of hard work that makes you depressed will pay off in the long run. Life is what you make of it so don't give up on your dreams if you run into some bumps along the way. For some people, their dreams are all they have and those are the people happiest once they've reached them.
Galen Michael Macpherson I
Dora...Thank you so much for your encouragement =) You are too sweet!
ReplyDeleteGalen...I’m sorry but I have to tell you, you made me laugh with your *hey guys I don’t agree with myself*. Too funny! I agree with you though that you need to go for your dreams and not hold back. I am believer in striving for the ultimate goal. - If you aim for nothing...you will hit it every time-
Good thoughts guys =)
~Rebe
I have used my interdisciplinarity in my professional life with projects with the Air Force. I have assembled teams to do certain tasks. And in the past I chose the best available person to lead these teams and just many other subordinates who would follow well. Recently I have chosen not just one leader but multiple leaders. Say a task requires strong people to accomplish it. It is customary to think to put all your strong people to do this job. I have started putting the people who have good ideas as leaders on these projects too so they can input what is the best way to use their muscle but more efficiently. This way the members under me are not getting exhausted as quickly, can perform more tasks, are accomplishing the job safer, and producing better success rates for the Air Force.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro
My professional history has consisted of me working hard at any job I’m given. I have only worked at four places; I’m only counting those of which I was paid for working. At three of the four positions I have held in the past I did not like two of them. Though I continued to work hard and gave it all I had until my final days despite my dissatisfaction with them. That displays loyalty and integrity; something I strive to keep in everything I do.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro
My strongest job skill would have to be dedication towards the goal, mission, or task at hand. When I’m learning the job I may take more time than average to completely understand what is going on, but when I do fully understand, I outperform most of my peers, most of the time. I also take much pride into what I do. Whatever I do I feel is a product of me which reflects who I am as a person. If I work mediocre and present mediocre results I may be and should rightly be perceived as below average. But since I try my best at all things I do I am considered by my peers as an unselfishly hard worker. My weakest job skill is leadership presence. I believe I am a good leader but many times I do not have the strong presence of leader. I am seen as too light or soft. I suffer from being too nice to my subordinates sometimes.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro
My ideal career is anything working with space, satellites, launches, and etc. One of career dreams is to work for the air force in Space Command. I am really trying to get a job working with launches but any space related job I will be happy with. The second job I would not mind having would probably be a mathematics teacher. I enjoy tutoring math, I find it quite rewarding. I don’t think teaching it would be too much more difficult.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro
I have not explored any internship of externship opportunities. I would consider ROTC a type of internship though. I earn college credits and it teaches and molds me to become an officer in the future if I do become commissioned. While in ROTC I am proving to the officers who are in charge that I am officer quality and deserve a commission in the Air Force. I am taught many different aspects of a successful leader and am evaluated on my potential as a future officer. With a traditional internship, you get hands on experience in the field you want and if you are good enough you sometimes are asked to work for them upon graduation. ROTC works the same way. You prove yourself by working hard, stepping up, and excelling beyond your peers. The officers in charge notice you and when it comes time for you to graduate, you become commissioned.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro
I believe that one should strive for excellence in he or she does. If a deed is pursued half-heatedly the results will reflect. I feel every professional venture one takes upon they must do so with an undying passion towards it. If someone is pursuing a career for the sole purpose of the financial benefit, I believe he or she will be sorely disappointed later in life. Also career goals ought to be the will of the person who is choosing that path. For example if I chose to be an architect because my father was an architect or he want me to be an architect then I am not fulfilling my goals. I am accomplishing someone else’s dreams. I also feel that whichever career path one chooses he or she must continuously try to make it better. Though many attempts to try to change a process may fail, persistence should overcome disappointment.
ReplyDeleteMy career goals have not changed. I have put more thought into how I should pursue my career goals but not changed them. I am probably more open to different jobs within the Air Force but I know I want to serve in the Air Force. As a leader in the Air Force I believe I can use interdisciplinarian ideas to better the way the military does business, handles projects and etc. by the use of integration of many ideas rather than the ideas of one superior.
ReplyDelete-Lawatha L. CherRenfro