Pathways

My boss has been on vacation this week which has left me all alone in my office each day.   Completely boring!   Since I haven't written in a while I thought I would use some time during my break to update my blog.  

We all wonder at some point in our lives what we want to be when we grow up.   I'm approaching 30 and still don't really know.  Everyone in the workforce field, which I currently work in, talks about career ladders and pathways, career assessments, occupations in demand, standard salaries and expected growth.   Well, I've taken career assessments which have told me where my interests are, I am following a pathway, I know what jobs are in demand and where to avoid, what kind of money I could make and where  I could find employment and I still am not sure what I'm doing.   No wonder so many people are overwhelmed with the thought of college.

I love my social work background, don't get me wrong.   However, a Masters in Social Work is geared mostly towards counseling.  This is not me.  I like developing new projects, creating social change, minimizing duplications and finding innovative ways to save money while making a "big bang".  My strengths, thanks to Strengthfinders 2.0, are Futuristic, Strategic, Achiever, Communicator and Learner.   All of these support this type of career I describe.   The problem is what exactly is that career?  In other words, finding a Masters program and wondering where to go from here has been challenging.

I love politics and policy, I won't deny that.   I enjoy public relations and researching best practices.   I like to work with a couple different populations.  I believe in helping those in need and really would like to work on prevention efforts towards ending systemic poverty.   I also love working with the elderly population and advocating for health care, ending elderly abuse and providing improved services.  I would avoid youth services though as that is really not my thing. 

I've been comparing Masters programs in Public Administration with a Healthcare Administration track and Community Development.   Community Development sounds more exciting and much less scary to me.   Public Administration has more job opportunities and I live in rural Minnesota where that comes into play.  Hmm...  I also looked into a Bush Fellowship- a 4 year commitment- where you recieve leadership training for 4 years and between $25-$75 thousand to research and develop a project.   I would love to do this, but I think the timing is off for now.   Maybe in the future.

Maybe I'm overanalyzing.   My mom tells me I do that sometimes...  :~)   I know it's true.  I am also inpatient at times which is probably why I find this frustrating.  I just want to know where life will lead me.  Wherever that may be, I am trying to enjoy the ride.  However, after 14 years of struggling year after year, about half of my life so far, I am definately ready for some stability. 

I guess I should pull out my magic eightball.   I was told it has all the answers. Although I shook it and I'm not sure what the hell this means. ;~)