Re: OS, I desperately need some help.
The guys gave some good advice and you're on the right track by acting now rather than waiting until you're out of school. I think checking in with your career services department is a good first step, and they should be able to administer the Myers-Briggs and/or some other evaluation. They might also have information on available internships for the summer... sometimes you have to get out there and do some stuff to determine what you do/don't like and what you find rewarding. Speaking from my own experience, the worst thing to do when you don't know what to do is to do nothing.
Something that helped me sort out what was important to me in a career was What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles (hyperlink doesn't seem to be working, sorry). It's part personal exploration focused on your values and preferences, part practical job-hunting advice (job search, resumes, interviews, etc). Like a career test, it's another tool to point you in the right direction(s), not the final answer. Once again, there's no substitute for life experience.
I'd advise against graduate school until it's part of a specific career plan. I'm not sure of your financial situation, but taking on additional debt is not something to take lightly. However, you have enough time to properly explore and make that decision before you graduate. If grad school ends up being a viable/necessary part of the plan, check into graduate assistant positions that could cover some/all of your tuition and pay a stipend. If you're involved in any campus activities (residence life, greek system, etc) that might be a good place to start. Resident director positions supervise RAs and dorm operations while typically providing tuition reimbursement, salary, and a suite (in the dorm, but it's "free"). If you have any interest in that, applying for an RA position for your senior year would be the way to go.
And if you're anxious/stressed to point of panic attacks, you should talk to someone about it. Your school should have a counseling program or at least be able to connect you to resources. I went through similar tough times, albeit a few years later, because I majored in History, went to grad school for a year just because, still didn't have a plan, worked a string of jobs for six months each and nearly torpedoed a relationship (now a marriage) before I sought help. And it was mostly situational issues brought on by stress, worry, lack of constructive action, and poor lifestyle choices (all night gaming sessions FTW!). Counseling and, if necessary, medication aren't necessarily lifetime commitments, so don't let that deter you.
If any of this helped and you want to talk more, send me a PM. Even after doing a lot of stuff the wrong way, I managed to end up where I wanted to be, helping people as a post-secondary school student advisor. And not just on the internet, but as an honest-to-goodness job for a paycheck.
The guys gave some good advice and you're on the right track by acting now rather than waiting until you're out of school. I think checking in with your career services department is a good first step, and they should be able to administer the Myers-Briggs and/or some other evaluation. They might also have information on available internships for the summer... sometimes you have to get out there and do some stuff to determine what you do/don't like and what you find rewarding. Speaking from my own experience, the worst thing to do when you don't know what to do is to do nothing.
Something that helped me sort out what was important to me in a career was What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard N. Bolles (hyperlink doesn't seem to be working, sorry). It's part personal exploration focused on your values and preferences, part practical job-hunting advice (job search, resumes, interviews, etc). Like a career test, it's another tool to point you in the right direction(s), not the final answer. Once again, there's no substitute for life experience.
I'd advise against graduate school until it's part of a specific career plan. I'm not sure of your financial situation, but taking on additional debt is not something to take lightly. However, you have enough time to properly explore and make that decision before you graduate. If grad school ends up being a viable/necessary part of the plan, check into graduate assistant positions that could cover some/all of your tuition and pay a stipend. If you're involved in any campus activities (residence life, greek system, etc) that might be a good place to start. Resident director positions supervise RAs and dorm operations while typically providing tuition reimbursement, salary, and a suite (in the dorm, but it's "free"). If you have any interest in that, applying for an RA position for your senior year would be the way to go.
And if you're anxious/stressed to point of panic attacks, you should talk to someone about it. Your school should have a counseling program or at least be able to connect you to resources. I went through similar tough times, albeit a few years later, because I majored in History, went to grad school for a year just because, still didn't have a plan, worked a string of jobs for six months each and nearly torpedoed a relationship (now a marriage) before I sought help. And it was mostly situational issues brought on by stress, worry, lack of constructive action, and poor lifestyle choices (all night gaming sessions FTW!). Counseling and, if necessary, medication aren't necessarily lifetime commitments, so don't let that deter you.
If any of this helped and you want to talk more, send me a PM. Even after doing a lot of stuff the wrong way, I managed to end up where I wanted to be, helping people as a post-secondary school student advisor. And not just on the internet, but as an honest-to-goodness job for a paycheck.
Comment