My mother is a nurse, my aunt is a nurse, my sister, cousins, second cousins, third cousins twice removed are on their way to becoming nurses. Guess what career they want me to take up?
My future is right in front of me, as the expression goes when one has just recently graduated from high school. I'm starting college next month signed up as a Psychology major; the only comments I've received out of that decision is discouragement over how difficult it will be for me to find a job immediately after undergraduate school. I have plans for medical school afterwards, but the main worry is that I won't be able to support myself while pursuing that MD. I chose to major in Psychology because I took the AP class in high school and thoroughly enjoyed each aspect of the subject. I figured that if I majored in something I was really interested in, then I'll feel more compelled to do extremely well in college. On the other hand, I do realize that one can't do much with a liberal arts degree. Most people I know, who have just graduated with liberal arts degrees have resorted to pizza delivery jobs for the time being. That's when I start wondering if I should just give in to the nagging and take up the dreaded career of nursing, like a large portion of my family has already. Maybe, like my cousin mentioned, I should just do what's "for my own good."
Nursing shortages seem to be perpetual, just like teacher shortages. No one wants low pay for a highly stressful career (unless he/she is extremely dedicated), but at the same time, there's continual growth in the job market. Even if you step in to this career area half-heartedly you can still make enough to support yourself while pursuing other things in life (family and/or more education.) Which comes to the ultimate question(s): When preparing for a career should you put your own personal happiness ahead of all the other factors (salary, possibly no job openings, etc.) OR would it make more sense to first get a career that will bring in the money, and with that money pursue what will bring happiness?
I would love to have a job where I wouldn't have to drag myself out of bed every morning to go to. But if that job is keeping me fed and financially secure, then it wouldn't be too bad if I just forced myself to like it....right?
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Do what you want to do, don't let your family discourage your from your goals. You're only going to hate those nursing classes.
MY mom wanted me to major in business and I hated the idea. I ended up having to drop those classes cause I couldn't take it.
Of course you're not going to be able to get a job right out of undergrad school if you're majoring in psychology. But when you go to grad school you get out of grad school you'll be able to have a stable income. And there's a program called Teach For America that recruits recent undergrads to teach and they'll send you to grad school for free. You could do that; even though teachers don't get a lot, you'll at least be doing more than Flipping burgers. That's what I'm probably going to end up doing because I'm majoring in Liberal Studies, concentrating in African-American History.
Good luck to ya!!! What school are you going to?
I'm attending the local community college in town. I don't have to pay the tuition because my mom works there; she teaches, no surprise, nursing.
Why would you base your career on what your family wants? It is your life and your time that you will be wasting if you chose a career you are not interested in. There is no reason why you should pick nursing just because someone tells you to. You are you own person, make your own decision.
Yes, I know, but I've been repeatedly told all the benefits that would come with that certain career (finding a job easily, stable income, etc.) and those aspects can't help but be appealing. I know that I'll eventually stick to the liberal arts degree no matter how much I'm coaxed or persuaded to do otherwise.
you and only you know whats best for your career, dont let others decide for you
I don't want to tell you what to do, I can tell you what I'm trying to do. I want to get an undergradate degree in something I can work at while I'm getting a bacholars. Unfortunatly, its not working to well. I can't seem to keep any kind of job for more then a couple of months. They all want someone who can work all hours and come in on two hours notice (I'm a CNA). Ceritifed nursing was supposed to get me into a steady job so I could pay for college, but as soon as I graduated everyone quit looking for employees. It happened just before I got my lience. All the job notices dissappeared from the paper. With all the factories closing in my part of michigan all the dead end jobs are taken, and all the skilled jobs definatly taken.
~maybee~
I just posted a blog about my story...it is so similar to yours...but I went ahead with my families pressure and ended up very unhappy. You should read it...it's like your are me 10 years ago.
Please leave me a comment- gradstew= graduate student...I'll leave you one too!