Discerning Career

[Poorly Catechized Convert]

How should one discern a career? I spent high school wanting to be a lawyer, but then wanted to be a high school teacher. Now I'm stuck between the two, but I graduate this spring and so need to start preparing for grad school applications now. Does anyone have any advice for how I can go about making a decision? I know you can't give me an answer, but advice on how to approach this would be helpful. Thanks!

[Luigi]

There are several considerations...

1. What do you want to do? That's not always easy to know in advance. My theory is "You don't know what you're getting into until into it." You can talk to other people and research the kind of work you'd be doing. One caveat - pay no attention to anything you see on TV or the movies - those are all exaggerations. Talk to real people about what they really do. 

2. Which of those two careers would allow you to use more of your talents? If you've got the smarts and the moxie to be a lawyer, would you be bored to tears teaching 50 minute lessons (again and again, year after year) in high school? Or do you prefer getting into a groove (teaching 50 minutes lessons again and again, year after year) and improving your skills at doing one thing? Would you prefer the variation of legal cases or the predictableness of teaching? 

3. What kind of teacher, and what kind of lawyer? Teaching in the gifted program is very different from teaching foundational but necessary skills such as writing essays. If you chose law, would it be corporate tax law, public defender in capital punishment cases, or estate & will? 

4. What do you hope to get out of either career? Lots of money? Teachers do earn pretty good pay if they've got higher degrees and they stay in one district for a long time, but lawyers probably get off to a faster start and really don't have established salary caps. Or do you ant to inspire young people and direct them into colleges & careers? Teachers actually can do that, but most students never come back to say "Thanks" - it's like the ten lepers, usually. 

5. Current finances - How soon do you need to start earning your own living? Can you afford to go to law school? I assume you're smart enough to succeed in either endeavor? Law school probably has a higher flunk-out rate than teacher education, but...

6. Can you develop a plan plus a back-up plan? Personally, I'd go for the law degree first. I'd try that career for a while. If you find it's not rewarding, you can switch gears because you can (afford to) go back to school for a teaching degree. And maybe still practice a little alw now and then for sideline income. 

7. I thought about trying to combine them, but I don't see how that would work very well - most high schools don't offer courses in law. YOu could be a lawyer for school districts, which might provide certain kinds of support or protection for students, but there wouldn't really be much teaching or student contact. 

Best of luck with it. 

 

[Gabriela]

Luigi's advice is great. I also recommend talking to people who know you and telling them your thoughts, then asking what they think. Take it seriously, even if it's not what you want to hear. Other people often have really good insight into what will make us happy—much better than our own, even, as we are "so close" to ourselves.

I'd also recommend, if you have time, going on an Ignatian retreat. These are REALLY helpful for people in discerning this sort of thing. They're offered all over the US on different timetables. Just google "Ignatian retreat [your state]".

There's also this: http://www.siena.org/Called-Gifted/called-a-gifted You can do those workshops all over the US, or even by yourself with a guide. My SD says they really help people.

Finally, there are the books of Fr. Timothy Gallagher: http://www.frtimothygallagher.org/books These can help you to discern where God is calling you and what's going on in your own heart.

Mostly, though, take time for silence and prayer EVERY DAY. Maybe journal while you do that. After a month, go back and read what you've written previously. You'll start to notice stuff—patterns and the like—that will help "reveal your heart to you". If you don't want to journal, just ask God to show you the desires of your heart, and then shut up and LISTEN. He'll tell you!