[etnie21]

Lychee:

Some great advice in the above posts and information too.

I am suffering from a career identity issue at the moment and some of what I have been thorough may help.

I am currently in IT doing proj. mgmt. I have an aptitude for this stuff, but it does not make me happy at all. It does not fulfill me. Years ago I began playing around with computers, more so with software and learning how it worked. I wasn't terribly interested in programming, but computers in general. As the years went by I kept playing around with computers, video games, etc... My original goal was to create computer games, however that involved quite a bit of math and careers in that field had not taken off yet. I checked into computer engineering and again there was too much math, I ended up going into Business Computer Systems (BCS). I had worked with computers all of my life so this made quite a bit of sense. After struggling through Business classes I became enamored with communications and seriously considered switching to a Com degree. Quite a few friends and family pushed me away from this degree because of the lack of opportunities once I graduated. In fact both my parents mentioned getting the best degree possible while at school and then following my heart afterwards. I ended up graduating with the BCS degree and have been in IT since. I have learned that I enjoy using computers and what they can do, but I want nothing to do with creating them, manging them, etc...

My point from above relates to a degree is just a degree, it is what you do AFTER you get it that matters. The tone I received from your post speaks of a fulfilling career (Ie. following your heart). Granted you spend quite a bit of time following psyche, therapy, law, etc... That does not speak to who you are or what you will do after school. You do have a decision in that you can create what you want to after you have proven to the world that you can learn. If you want to follow the cookie cutter role of becoming a therapist, psychologist, etc... then go ahead, but YOU are the one making the decision.

On the note of following your heart and other things will follow... I am evaluating this path as well. It takes a great amount of determination, will, and sacrifice to make this happen. Granted I am just starting down the path, but everything I have read speaks to this point. Everything points to this path being worth it, however it can be long and quite challenging. You may have to starve for xx years before you can really see things being worth it, you may lose some things you thought were sure things like 'friends' in the process (though you do understand facing that path who your true friends and support are). So if you choose following your heart, be fully aware of what that means.

Having said all that, here is what I know of friends that go into the medical field.

1. They tend to be paying off loans for quite a bit of time... You will make the money back, eventually, usually they are quite busy studying or keeping up with what is going on and may not pay attention to other 'side' things. You can do investments, consulting, building stuff, whatever suits your fancy on the side, but it should be something manageable and that you are somewhat interested in (or have someone that can manage it for you).
2. You have to love what you are doing, not what you do on a daily basis. (Paperwork sucks, but you get to work with people trade off) Keep in mind the 'not fun' activities of the job/career.

Maybe getting a phd will allow experimentation with what you really want to do with the fall back of teaching? Maybe you will be the one who creates some radical new idea or figures out something that people before you did not and your road create itself from there...
I have gone through quite a few exercises in a book called "The Pathfinder" By Nicholas Lore. Awesome book that really makes you think about who and what you are and where you want to go with what you have to offer the world. Granted it sounds like you are sold on the psyche/therapy road, regardless some of the exercises in the book are fantastic. Another book that deals with personality type and the MBTI: "Do What You Are".

If I were in your shoes I would evaluate where I am at, speak to as many people in the profession as possible, have some type of back up plan (Ie. investments, other career, etc...), and then move towards your goal. Experimenting when you are younger is FAR easier (as mentioned above) then when you are older!

On a side note... I have heard in the past that psyche and therapists are there to support people, not solve their problems for them, if you are hoping to solve people's problems or fix them, then these may not be good careers for you.