When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be a doctor, but then I realized that the mere sight of blood made me queasy. And I liked some of that math and science stuff in high school, so I decided on engineering (another stable, potential money-making career). Wow--I was SO completely ill-suited for that! I started out in electrical engineering, and after anchoring the curve for countless classes, just barely squeaked through with an individually-designed major from the School of Engineering (I'm sure my professors were relieved to see me go ;))

After graduation, I didn't work even a day as an engineer--I'm sure my lack of confidence shone through brightly in interviews. I ended up working as an entry-level editor for an educational software company, and had worked up to editorial manager before I left. Now I'm thankful to be able to be home with the kids and enjoying that. For a time, I worked on a custom-photo-cards business with two partners, but we're taking a break for now. And I'm not sure what's coming next...

I should mention that I'm on the road to California, so will be checking in sporadically. I loved hearing Fedora's career journey and hope more of you will share.

See you soon!

This is a loaded question, Jeannie! I started out as a paralegal major, moved to marketing, then to education, specifically an English teacher. Between all of the changes in major, working, and moving, it took me eight years to get my Bachelor's degree in English/Secondary education(taught that for 4 years). Since then, I've earned an endorsement in Special Education(taught that for three years), a Master's degree in Elementary education(taught that for four years)and earned another endorsement in Library/Media Specialist(I've done this for 3 years now). I'm honestly not sure which one I'll eventually stay in or whether I am destined to move around until retirement.

I love that writing gives me a chance to explore other careers and live them vicariously through my characters without all of the expense of college classes. After all I still owe on my real student loans!

LindaC

I started out in a paralegal program too! How funny. I bombed, but I was only 19 -- I quit school then to get married (stupid, stupid, stupid), and went back later...

So winding road for me, too.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a physicist/astronomer, and then I hit the math.

In high school, I wanted to be a translator, and took 4 foreign languages, kept up with two of them later through college, but now have forgotten them all. LOL

Though I do recall, for some weird reason, in my high school French class, having to have a conversation with someone about what we wanted to do for a career, and I wanted to be a writer (ecriver? I can't remember how to say it now... LOL)

Then, went back to school for my English degree, and finished up through my Masters, started teaching, and in the middle of that my scientist yearnings kicked back in, and I took math courses at the local college to bone up (it was hard, but I got all As, though I don't remember any of it now, LOL), and wanted to get into Landscape Architecture or something that would get me coastal/environmental science work (I was in my late 30s) and instead took a Geography class and fell in love, and ended up with a dual Masters in Geography and Public Administration... though the PA was really an abbreviated program, in nonprofit management. I did manage to study coastlines, sustainable development of coastal cities, but it was soft science, still.

I was searching and traveling to interviews to work at nonprofits when I sold Virtually Perfect... and here I am. Sometimes I feel like plankton, just going where the currents take me...

I have also been a technical editor for internet trade magazines in the meantime, and before I went back to school in my 20s, did a variety of jobs including working at a radio station, and a mannequin factory. ;)

My regret? As much as I love geo, I wish I'd put in the extra few years and done the physical geo or the hard science degree... I still would have loved to have a job as a city planner or some sort of environmental scientist, and as much as I like writing, I would have enjoyed a career in that area... I sort of took the softer route, and still end up thinking "I shoulda..." But no more school for me -- 12 years teaching, 3 Masters degrees, I'm done. LOL

However, writing has been a constant in my whole life, since I was a child... hard to say if it's what I was meant to do... maybe. I enjoy it, obviously. But what I want to be? Still, in some ways, many things... *G* Especially when royalties are low and I look at the job market and think of what I'm qualified for...

S

I didn't meander much. I originally wanted to be a physical therapist but missed the cut to get into the program by 2 people. So I fell back on my second choice -- teaching -- and I had no regrets. I spent 35 years teaching junior high and high school and finally retired a couple of year ago.

I got married right out of high school and started having babies. Mission accomplished.

I always knew I wanted to be a writer. As part of a college writing course, I turned in a short romance and was taken aside by the instructor, who kindly advised me that in his class, we only wrote serious prose. He recommended me for the journalism program and for the next four years, I wrote serious stuff. I was the only journalism student recommended for a newspaper internship during my senior year, and for one entire semester, I worked as a full-time reporter for a city newspaper. I loved it. I loved the energy of it, and the immediacy of it, and being part of it all. I had visions of becoming a photo-journalist, traveling to hot spots around the globe.

Until 5:00 one morning, when I was writing the morning police reports and I was the only reporter in the newsroom, and a photographer burst into the office and said he had to go cover a story, and he grabbed me to go with him. A small plane had crashed just short of a small municipal airport and they'd just located the wreckage. When I first saw that tiny plane, tangled in the tree branches and dangling about 20 feet above the ground, with the bodies of the pilot and his passenger still inside, I got sick. Literally.

So I decided that serious stuff wasn't my thing...and I happily returned to writing romances. And they are serious...seriously hot!! :)

When I was a little girl living in England, I wanted to be a nurse. This was due in part to the cool caps (nurse's don't even caps anymore, do they?) and cloaks they wore. In fact, I got a Nurse Halloween costume once that included the cape and wore it all the time (no cap though).

However, as I was already involved in ballet and performed onstage in The Nutcracker, I was sure I wanted to be a Prima Ballerina.

Unfortunately, neither of those goals worked out for me. I had to have spine surgery when I was a teenager, which meant learning to walk again. My dancing days were over. :-( Well, professionally. I still can't go en pointe anymore.

So back to nursing. Until I took a course in First Aid in High School (a requisite) and passed out--twice--due to the films we had to sit through. I still watch Grey's Anatomy and ER with only one eye open. It's quicker to shut one eye when they show blood than two.

I went to college dreaming of becoming an English teacher. But I was told there were too many of them and I'd never get a job so I switched to Anthropology, another interest of mine. I got my Masters in Anthro.

So what do I do? What have I done most of my adult life: newspaper reporter, front desk clerk at numerous motels/hotels/ resorts, reservations (same), worked at miscellaneous stationary and bookstores, legal secretary, and for the past 18 years I've been the office manager for three different businesses (fly fishing manufacturer, school supplies and construction company).

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. At the rate I'm going, though, I'll be retired before that happens. LOL

ani

Hi Jeannie,

I actually haven't made that many changes. When I was 3, I wanted to be a tightrope walker. It's a good thing this didn't work out because at some point in my life I developed a new phobia of heights. I know "everyone" says it, but I would love to be a romance writer at some point in my life. Truly - it's my plan for after I work for a while.
I'd also love to be a US Senator - and generally I add so I can lead tours to the top of the rotunda ;).
In reality, however, I've always wanted to be a doctor or a lawyer. In middle school, I discovered I couldn't do blood or gore. In high school, I hated AP Chem. So, lawyer it was (since 6th grade.) My majors in college were a feed into law school... and I'll be entering my last year of law school in the fall. So, I guess I'm more like your daughter. :) I'd love to meander at some point though.