Proteus and me.
I have been going back and forth at work on my decision to become a hair assistant versus my decision to stay in the nail area. Honestly, I hate doing nails. It’s not as boring as working in the library was, because there is the whole social element that keeps me going. Still, I hate squinting at people’s dirty hands and feet trying to decide if the nail is actually crooked or if I have another anal, neurotic asshole in my chair (usually it’s the latter; I’m pretty much da’ bomb at filing some nails [rocket science, right?]). However, the pay I would be making as a nail tech is substantially higher than that I would be making as a a hair assistant. Long term is a different story, but the problem is I don’t know what I want to do long-term. Unquestionably I’d like to go back to school. Though, what I want to study isn’t exactly a marketable field and it may behoove me to have a marketable skill in leu of it.
I continually search craigslist, and I don’t see a high demand for English majors. I don’t foresee a sudden change in that demand should I pop out of school with a MA or PhD (actually, the demand is more likely to decrease). I could teach, but then I’d most likely be adjunct and may still need another source of income.
I wish I had been more interested in Science or Business. There is a great deal of demand/scholarships/grants/jobs for people with degrees in those fields. Meanwhile, the jobs I find requesting people with an English (or related) degree have been administrative work – good proofreading skills, ability to type, highly organized, etc. I don’t want to be a secretary, even if I could one day rise in the ranks of a business to become sort sort of director. Office work doesn’t exactly frost my cupcakes.
I have been going back and forth at work, and they have been accommodating and kind, and have yet to gotten visibly annoyed with my alternating whims. However, this will change and I need to make a decision. It is the hardest thing in the world for me to try and think ‘long-term’ or see myself situated in a permanent situation in the future. I am protean; I cannot be limited or I become depressed. But I need to make a decision now.. I need to figure out the next year, and it needs to benefit my plans for the following year.
This is why my stomach has been so messed up, it knew about this subconscious stress long before it caught up with my mind.
Jeremiah said,
August 21, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I disagree. I have no plans formed beyond December. I understand my next step is to apply for post-docs and I’ve created a list, but I don’t know which of those labs will hire me and thus, I cannot plan on anything other than “I’m going to post doc.” I suppose it would be in my best interest to create a backup plan, but I’m not that kind of person. Backup plans are always, by their nature, the least best idea.
So, don’t worry about shifting ideas or positions. Just pick something broad – hugely broad like “I want to go to grad school” and then make everything work toward that. Go to whatever school accepts you and work however much you need to. You will question yourself and, you’re right, it’s not significantly more marketable than a BS in English, but it’s what you do. Then you can say “I want to open a bakery” and you do everything you can do to make that happen. I used to think it was retarded and campy, but you can do anything you want to. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to in order to do it… but that’s what it takes.
Don’t dream. Plan. Dreams are meant to be chased, plans are meant to be realized.
Vince said,
August 25, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Don’t let a degree in English limit your opportunities to just those careers requiring an English degree. There are many jobs/careers out there that simply require a “degree” – nothing specialized. I’ve always said that with your looks and personality you would possibly do well in sales. Of the 7 reps that report to me only 2 have business related degrees. I have one with a Political Science degree, 2 who have degrees in Education (teachers), and 1 (my top rep and one of the top reps in the country) who has a degree in Biology. If sales doesn’t interest you, you can look into management careers. Restaurant management or retail management – and I don’t mean McDonalds or Hot Topics. The larger retail giants (like Macy’s or Hudson’s) higher young college grads for management training positions. Also, places like Avis do the same. I would recommend speaking with a recruiter. Many companies use recruiters to find job candidates. If you decide to do this make sure that you tell them you are looking for a “fee paid” position. There are lots of opportunities out there that your degree will open doors for. But, if you don’t know what you want to do right now then don’t let it stress you out. You are young and you have time to think. You were so smart for getting your cosmetology license prior to going to college. This has provided you with a excellent trade that you can always fall back on if you decide not to make it your career.