I have something to share with you. I'm going back to school. That is I am taking a 9 course program at my local college.
I have been thinking long and hard about my career. Where I am today is not where I thought I would be. To be honest, I never had a visual of where I wanted to be. In high school I had a hard time choosing a path to study in. So I took everything, Chemistry, Biology, Photography, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Geography, History, Math, Spanish, and French. Funny I never took the accounting, business or finance courses, but the last 6 years I have spent in a corporate environment. When it came time to select my focus in college, again I was torn. My parents wanted me to steer away from the creative stuff because they were worried what kind of job I would find. So I did the next best thing. I found a somewhat creative job where I could make money - Interior Design. I spent 2 years at a private academy for ID and graduated as a certified interior designer. That's right folks, I'm certifiable (yuck yuck yuck). After spending 2 years in the industry I came to the ugly truth - I loved interior design, I wasn't a fan of the "professionals" in the industry. Other designers, contractors, tradesmen, vendors, suppliers, all of them. I just couldn't do it. So what to do? Well I was really lucky when my father-in-law helped me get a job at the Staples head office. I thought I would work in the visual merchandising field for a while until I could figure out what I really wanted to do. Fast forward 6 years, I am still in an office, not doing anything creative, and feeling like the work I do really doesn't make much of a difference in the world.
So now what? Well first I took a look at what interested me. Teaching, how I would love to be a teacher. Unfortunately I have a mortgage and bills and can not afford to go back to school full time for 4-5 years. Next, look at what skills I have and where I could make it work. Hmmm? anyone need an interior designer who hasn't been practicing for 6 years? Oh what's that - I could be an intern at your design firm, yeah no thanks, that's not going to pay the bills. I thought about taking my interior design and applying to teachers college. However you need a degree from a university and because I went to a private school, teachers college doesn't recognize it - tell that one to your kids!
Option 4, look in the professional world, see where there will be a need for professionals and take the necessary steps towards it. Auto industry, not doing so well, housing industry, not that great either. And then it hit me, well actually it shuffled up next to me an nudged me. My father is retiring! No I can't have his job :) However, my father is part of a very large generation - the baby boomers. If he is retiring, that means shortly there will be a lot more people retiring. That means a larger part of our population will be aging and in need of medical care. I remembered all of my biology classes in high school. I loved it! The human body, the cells, the bones, all of it was fascinating. Let's not kid anyone though, I'm not doctor material, not even nurse material (well maybe this will lead to being a nurse) I have years of office experience and I'm pretty good on the computer. I am a great communicator and love people interaction. I love to organize, colour code and have great time management skills (okay Kenrick stop laughing I will work on that last one). I searched all of the online correspondence options in the medical field and found a number of options. I selected Hospital Nursing Unit Clerk.
"Develop office management and business communications skills for the health care environment. Clerical and administrative support for a hospital unit or health care institution. Set up records for patients, transcribe physicians, orders from patient files. Requisition forms for labs test, therapy, drugs and supplies for unit. Record diagnoses on medical forms, arrange for transfer of patients."
So here I am, 2 weeks into my first course, Medical Terminology. I'm remembering so much from high school. I'm also able to relate some of the diseases to life experiences that I have been through. Studying the human body systems, bones, muscles, major organs and their functions, disease and disorders. It's a lot to take in, but I have to say, I am enjoying it. So wish me luck. I got my pens, paper, binder and textbooks ready - here I go!
Oh did I mention one other perk - Scrubs and Crocs would be my new work wardrobe! I've always loved the comfort of Crocs, and how cute are scrubs in fun colours like raspberry, chocolate and indigo. Professional and comfortable, can't wait. It's about 2-3 years away - or maybe sooner ;)
I have been thinking long and hard about my career. Where I am today is not where I thought I would be. To be honest, I never had a visual of where I wanted to be. In high school I had a hard time choosing a path to study in. So I took everything, Chemistry, Biology, Photography, Visual Arts, Creative Writing, Geography, History, Math, Spanish, and French. Funny I never took the accounting, business or finance courses, but the last 6 years I have spent in a corporate environment. When it came time to select my focus in college, again I was torn. My parents wanted me to steer away from the creative stuff because they were worried what kind of job I would find. So I did the next best thing. I found a somewhat creative job where I could make money - Interior Design. I spent 2 years at a private academy for ID and graduated as a certified interior designer. That's right folks, I'm certifiable (yuck yuck yuck). After spending 2 years in the industry I came to the ugly truth - I loved interior design, I wasn't a fan of the "professionals" in the industry. Other designers, contractors, tradesmen, vendors, suppliers, all of them. I just couldn't do it. So what to do? Well I was really lucky when my father-in-law helped me get a job at the Staples head office. I thought I would work in the visual merchandising field for a while until I could figure out what I really wanted to do. Fast forward 6 years, I am still in an office, not doing anything creative, and feeling like the work I do really doesn't make much of a difference in the world.
So now what? Well first I took a look at what interested me. Teaching, how I would love to be a teacher. Unfortunately I have a mortgage and bills and can not afford to go back to school full time for 4-5 years. Next, look at what skills I have and where I could make it work. Hmmm? anyone need an interior designer who hasn't been practicing for 6 years? Oh what's that - I could be an intern at your design firm, yeah no thanks, that's not going to pay the bills. I thought about taking my interior design and applying to teachers college. However you need a degree from a university and because I went to a private school, teachers college doesn't recognize it - tell that one to your kids!
Option 4, look in the professional world, see where there will be a need for professionals and take the necessary steps towards it. Auto industry, not doing so well, housing industry, not that great either. And then it hit me, well actually it shuffled up next to me an nudged me. My father is retiring! No I can't have his job :) However, my father is part of a very large generation - the baby boomers. If he is retiring, that means shortly there will be a lot more people retiring. That means a larger part of our population will be aging and in need of medical care. I remembered all of my biology classes in high school. I loved it! The human body, the cells, the bones, all of it was fascinating. Let's not kid anyone though, I'm not doctor material, not even nurse material (well maybe this will lead to being a nurse) I have years of office experience and I'm pretty good on the computer. I am a great communicator and love people interaction. I love to organize, colour code and have great time management skills (okay Kenrick stop laughing I will work on that last one). I searched all of the online correspondence options in the medical field and found a number of options. I selected Hospital Nursing Unit Clerk.
"Develop office management and business communications skills for the health care environment. Clerical and administrative support for a hospital unit or health care institution. Set up records for patients, transcribe physicians, orders from patient files. Requisition forms for labs test, therapy, drugs and supplies for unit. Record diagnoses on medical forms, arrange for transfer of patients."
So here I am, 2 weeks into my first course, Medical Terminology. I'm remembering so much from high school. I'm also able to relate some of the diseases to life experiences that I have been through. Studying the human body systems, bones, muscles, major organs and their functions, disease and disorders. It's a lot to take in, but I have to say, I am enjoying it. So wish me luck. I got my pens, paper, binder and textbooks ready - here I go!
Oh did I mention one other perk - Scrubs and Crocs would be my new work wardrobe! I've always loved the comfort of Crocs, and how cute are scrubs in fun colours like raspberry, chocolate and indigo. Professional and comfortable, can't wait. It's about 2-3 years away - or maybe sooner ;)
3 comments:
Good for you! And best of luck with your ventures.
Reading this I could not believe how much your life reads like mine...it's eerie.
I also finished school 5 years at University with a Specialist in English...but in my final year found that teaching was not for me. I love using my creativity and teaching high school does not always allow for that!!
This year I bought a house, and although I always loved fashion and interior design, it wasn't until having to renovate and decorate my home that I found what an utter joy it was!! So I am currently trying to start my own business as well as working on getting my first novel published:) I feel your frustration because I also cannot afford to go back to school, what with house payments and bills!! The real kicker is, that of all things guess how I currently pay for my bills...I am a unit clerk at a Toronto Hospital.
Eerie right?!! Good luck :)
Good luck! I hope your new journey brings you tons of happiness (and lots of fun scrubs)!
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