View Single Post
Old 11-08-2009, 01:12 PM   #9 (permalink)
BrettAshlee
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Montana, USA
Posts: 53
BrettAshlee is on a distinguished road
Default

It's okay to be good (or great) at things like math that you don't necessarily like or want to do for a living. In the long run you will be happier if you pursue a career doing things you enjoy. Since you mention you enjoy connecting with others emotionally and more in a one-on-one environment (introvert), you might look into social work, human services, or counseling. Your ability to communicate well is a plus for these fields.

What you "should" be doing is whatever is right for you. Our schools often teach us to follow socially acceptable plans for success. The problem is, these are other people's visions of success, not your own. Follow your own bliss. If you don't know what that is yet, try a few things along the lines you enjoy.

Even though your high school is "academically vigorous" it may be beneficial to enroll in college courses early. College will challenge you to think in different ways than high school and expose you to new people and ideas that will likely influence your decisions about which direction you want to follow in life.

Learning to become socially adept comes with experience. Keep in mind there are many extroverts who are not socially adept. Once again, though the road may be slow, you communication skills are a great advantage. As you move out into the adult world, study those who do it well.

Above all, remember that life is a process. Very few people know what they want to do for the rest of their life when they are teenagers or young adults. Also, the 21st century world of work leans more toward having several short careers in a lifetime rather than a single career. This is great news because it allows us to continue to grow and learn and refine our careers throughout our lives.
BrettAshlee is offline   Reply With Quote