How do you know what to do?

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Lea101

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Career wise.

I know it’s common for younger people to keep switching. I wanted to do something with writing since I was 6. I then gave that up because local authors from where I’m from aren’t successful and journalism seemed cool but I’m not comfortable with cameras/radios (I’m only into the writing aspect, but journalism courses covers everything+jobs at news agencies also require you to have more than 1 skill)

Then I went through a whole bunch of stuff and I decided I should be a psychologist, preferably clinical or counselling.

BUT whilst studying for my exam (tomorrow, wish me luck), I kind of realised that I found counselling useless. Most people I know seemed to agree as well. And also, I cannot afford a degree, but assuming that I get a scholarship or something…what are the odds that I’ll be able to attend and pay for a Masters degree? 😦
I got into psychology because I wanted to help others, and I don’t want to be one just for the money. What’s the point of counselling if I find it useless? I’m a hypocrite for refusing counselling…yet it’s one of the fields I wanted to work in…

I’m just rambling at this point lol.

I know I’m young but technically I do have to decide soon. I don’t have any special talents or other passions., so I don’t know what to do. I am not sure if I’m on the wrong path or if I should continue…
 
Career vs vocation? I was like you in that I wanted a career in a field but didn’t have the money for school and didn’t get any scholarships. That still is my first love and I am an unofficial scholar on the topic.

Next was to find a marketable skill. For me that was computer programming, eons ago, I found that terminally boring and I never finished school but got some business courses out of the way that were helpful.

I tested the job market working temporary jobs. I am a quick study. Lots of skills. Today all of those jobs have been revamped requiring various college certificates or courses that puts them out of reach, again like the degreed careers.

I feel sorry for this younger generation, you have to get into considerable amount of debt before you can get a meaningful career. I know the next step will be requiring fast food workers a four year degree before they can serve you a latte or flip a burger.

Advice, follow your first love, journalism. Work your way up. I know several young people who are making a name for themselves by skipping college and the debt, and working in the field they love. It may not be full-time, it may not pay enough…yet.
 
Casilda said:
Career vs vocation? I was like you in that I wanted a career in a field but didn’t have the money for school and didn’t get any scholarships. That still is my first love and I am an unofficial scholar on the topic.

Next was to find a marketable skill. For me that was computer programming, eons ago, I found that terminally boring and I never finished school but got some business courses out of the way that were helpful.

**I tested the job market working temporary jobs. I am a quick study. Lots of skills. Today all of those jobs have been revamped requiring various college certificates or courses that puts them out of reach, again like the degreed careers.

I feel sorry for this younger generation, you have to get into considerable amount of debt before you can get a meaningful career. I know the next step will be requiring fast food workers a four year degree before they can serve you a latte or flip a burger. **

Advice, follow your first love, journalism. Work your way up. I know several young people who are making a name for themselves by skipping college and the debt, and working in the field they love. It may not be full-time, it may not pay enough…yet.
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I am younger, I did the same thing. I’ve changed jobs quite a bit, and had a number of temp jobs. I think it’s good to change jobs to find what you enjoy, and if the next job is going to pay more. I mean, until you find a place you want to work that also pays a reasonable wage. Do not settle. However, I do not know how different things in Singapore are compared to here in the United States. I got an associates, so a little debt, I thought it was a complete waste to spend anymore to get a bachelors degree with the way the job market is. I can advance without it, until I reach a point where it’s required (if I ever get there). And hopefully I will have either 1. saved enough money, or 2. have a job with a company that will help pay for the bachelors degree (hopefully both will be true).

I’ve made it to an entry-level Business Analyst position. I know that people with a little more experience in this line of work make pretty good money. My SO is a computer programmer/developer, also making good money. Neither of us has a bachelors degree.
 
I currently hold a four year degree in English. When I started school, I had a few ideas regarding what I wanted to do after school, the main one being that I wanted to be a literary agent or editor. That’s a very difficult field to break into if you don’t have the necessary experience most of them want. It doesn’t take long to realize that, depending on your field, a bachelors is a basic prereq, not something that sets you apart. My peers often joke about the endless circle of needing experience to get a job, but needing a job to get experience. It’s only funny when you’re not job searching anymore. 😉

I don’t have any sage advice about choosing a specific career, but I will say that you may well find that your degree could lead to any number of careers. I write closed captioning and subtitles for a living. I never once considered this to be even a possibility when I was in school, but one thing led to another, and I found an advert for this job online, applied on a whim, and got right in. If psychology still interests you, remember that there are a lot of different ways of using that field of study. Goodness, there are plenty of types of therapy and counseling alone. But I’d also take what interested you about this field of study (or any other field, to be honest) and look into it further. See what other jobs you might not have considered might be a thing.

And as an only semi-related side note, I will say that I’ve been to many a counselor with my bipolar disorder, and have found quite a few who really have no business being in that field, so I do commend you if you recognize that this isn’t something you want to do and go a different direction, as it can be quite frustrating on the patients’ end to try to work with a counselor who just doesn’t care. 🤷
 
Another thing I thought of. And I don’t know if this applies in your country, but I know it does here.

Many places that are looking for a Masters Degree don’t care so much about what you studied, so much as simply that you have a Masters Degree. That can definitely set you apart. Unless of course you’re trying to get into something more specific like psychology, then the Masters in Psychology is going to be required. Teaching, managing, and things of that nature don’t really need a specific field of study. And a Masters in Psychology will say a lot about you to employers. Having that sort of background would definitely be beneficial; better understanding the human mind, it’s functions and behavior.
 
I don’t know how it works in Singapore, but if I did it all over again (I do have a Masters) I would not go to graduate school unless it was paid for. My husband’s Masters was paid for by scholarship, and several of my friends had Masters degrees paid for by their place of employment (usually with the requirement that they continue to work there for 3-5 years after obtaining the degree, and if they left they would be required to pay back the tuition.)

I think it also depends why you want the degree. I’m a big fan of liberal arts education, for example, and think it lends itself well to employment in a lot of different fields, but if you want a “career track” I’d look and see how to maximize your investment - how can you get the most education for the least amount of money that would make you the most employable.
 
Lea101 said:
Career wise.

I know it’s common for younger people to keep switching. I wanted to do something with writing since I was 6. I then gave that up because local authors from where I’m from aren’t successful and journalism seemed cool but I’m not comfortable with cameras/radios (I’m only into the writing aspect, but journalism courses covers everything+jobs at news agencies also require you to have more than 1 skill)

Then I went through a whole bunch of stuff and I decided I should be a psychologist, preferably clinical or counselling.

BUT whilst studying for my exam (tomorrow, wish me luck), I kind of realised that I found counselling useless. Most people I know seemed to agree as well. And also, I cannot afford a degree, but assuming that I get a scholarship or something…what are the odds that I’ll be able to attend and pay for a Masters degree? 😦
I got into psychology because I wanted to help others, and I don’t want to be one just for the money. What’s the point of counselling if I find it useless? I’m a hypocrite for refusing counselling…yet it’s one of the fields I wanted to work in…

I’m just rambling at this point lol.

I know I’m young but technically I do have to decide soon. I don’t have any special talents or other passions., so I don’t know what to do. I am not sure if I’m on the wrong path or if I should continue…
Click to expand...
Where do you get the idea that counseling is useless? Millions of people have gone into counseling and have had happy, productive lives because of it. Make an appoint with a guidance counselor (how ironic! :rolleyes:) at school and ask for advice on choosing a new major. You pay for a masters degree by working hard and going to school part time or at night. It will take longer, but lots of people do it and you won’t owe anyone anything when you are done.
 
Catholic1954 said:
Where do you get the idea that counseling is useless? Millions of people have gone into counseling and have had happy, productive lives because of it. Make an appoint with a guidance counselor (how ironic! :rolleyes:) at school and ask for advice on choosing a new major. You pay for a masters degree by working hard and going to school part time or at night. It will take longer, but lots of people do it and you won’t owe anyone anything when you are done.
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THIS^^^^

Counseling IS NOT USELESS.
 
Catholic1954 said:
Where do you get the idea that counseling is useless? Millions of people have gone into counseling and have had happy, productive lives because of it. Make an appoint with a guidance counselor (how ironic! :rolleyes:) at school and ask for advice on choosing a new major. You pay for a masters degree by working hard and going to school part time or at night. It will take longer, but lots of people do it and you won’t owe anyone anything when you are done.
Click to expand...
I didn’t mean to offend people who think otherwise. I always find counselling not worth the money. (I’m simplifying this a lot, but I wouldn’t pay someone to listen to me talk) People with serious issues usually go for therapy, and I am a bit interested in that. I just don’t have the resources (education and money). I would rather actively help. Counsellors are more of a passive profession (they don’t give you advice, for instance)

I’m not in university yet, I’m currently taking a diploma in psychology. I’ll complete this and decide whether to take psychology in university, I cannot switch diplomas unless I pay for everything again 😦

And even if I switch, I don’t know where else to go.

And I don’t even know if it’s just the stress of the exams talking

It kind of sucks having to choose a career at an age where you cannot even decide what to have for lunch
 
pensmama87 said:
I don’t know how it works in Singapore, but if I did it all over again (I do have a Masters) I would not go to graduate school unless it was paid for. My husband’s Masters was paid for by scholarship, and several of my friends had Masters degrees paid for by their place of employment (usually with the requirement that they continue to work there for 3-5 years after obtaining the degree, and if they left they would be required to pay back the tuition.)

I think it also depends why you want the degree. I’m a big fan of liberal arts education, for example, and think it lends itself well to employment in a lot of different fields, but if you want a “career track” I’d look and see how to maximize your investment - how can you get the most education for the least amount of money that would make you the most employable.
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It’s more or less the same here. Master’s is usually just a cert. Lots of people here have degrees and it’s gotten to tbe point where master’s are beginning to be ‘the new normal’.

Over here, technically you can just have a degree with honors to be a psychologist, but people will choose higher credentials. Also, psychology is just beginning to take its place here (more people go for STEM), so standards will increase and soon Master’s will be the minimum, like most countries
 
Casilda said:
Career vs vocation? I was like you in that I wanted a career in a field but didn’t have the money for school and didn’t get any scholarships. That still is my first love and I am an unofficial scholar on the topic.

Next was to find a marketable skill. For me that was computer programming, eons ago, I found that terminally boring and I never finished school but got some business courses out of the way that were helpful.

I tested the job market working temporary jobs. I am a quick study. Lots of skills. Today all of those jobs have been revamped requiring various college certificates or courses that puts them out of reach, again like the degreed careers.

I feel sorry for this younger generation, you have to get into considerable amount of debt before you can get a meaningful career. I know the next step will be requiring fast food workers a four year degree before they can serve you a latte or flip a burger.

Advice, follow your first love, journalism. Work your way up. I know several young people who are making a name for themselves by skipping college and the debt, and working in the field they love. It may not be full-time, it may not pay enough…yet.
Click to expand...
My dad had no uni education and he did that. He ended up starting a business though. But he knew what he didn’t want by doing that. I wish I could too!

Journalism is a tricky field. Like I said, they want people with more than one skill. So, I would have to learn photography, do reports on air, etc. I’m only interested in one aspect of it-print. So I cannot make a career out of it too.

You pretty much need a degree here. Diploma students make an average 1.1-1.5k a month, degree students make around 3k. This is just the average, but degrees are sought after so much, so it’s not something I can debate on getting. If my GPA is low at the end of 3 years, I’m genuinely afraid that I might end my life. (Aaaah, Singapore for you! This place is lovely besides the pressure of education and money, though)

I would like to merge writing and psychology together, but I don’t know what career path that is? Is it even a thing?
 
Lea101 said:
I didn’t mean to offend people who think otherwise. I always find counselling not worth the money. (I’m simplifying this a lot, but I wouldn’t pay someone to listen to me talk) People with serious issues usually go for therapy, and I am a bit interested in that. I just don’t have the resources (education and money). I would rather actively help. Counsellors are more of a passive profession** (they don’t give you advice, for instance)**
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Whaaaaa?

Some don’t, but some do. You might be thinking of a very specific form of talk therapy (there’s more than one as I’m sure you will learn/have learned in your studies.)

There’s lots of career paths for psychologists and specialties. A few write books, too, but that’s typically after a lot of career experience.
 
pensmama87 said:
Whaaaaa?

Some don’t, but some do. You might be thinking of a very specific form of talk therapy (there’s more than one as I’m sure you will learn/have learned in your studies.)

There’s lots of career paths for psychologists and specialties. A few write books, too, but that’s typically after a lot of career experience.
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They aren’t really supposed to tell you what to do. They give you a listening ear + let you see the source of your problem. So they are to give advice as minimal as possible. That’s what lecturers have told us (they used to be counsellors, some as therapists)

(Counsellors and therapist do different things so we are probably thinking of different things lol, my mind is more on the non clinical setting-school for example)
 
Lea101 said:
Career wise.

I know it’s common for younger people to keep switching. I wanted to do something with writing since I was 6. I then gave that up because local authors from where I’m from aren’t successful and journalism seemed cool but I’m not comfortable with cameras/radios (I’m only into the writing aspect, but journalism courses covers everything+jobs at news agencies also require you to have more than 1 skill)

Then I went through a whole bunch of stuff and I decided I should be a psychologist, preferably clinical or counselling.

BUT whilst studying for my exam (tomorrow, wish me luck), I kind of realised that I found counselling useless. Most people I know seemed to agree as well. And also, I cannot afford a degree, but assuming that I get a scholarship or something…what are the odds that I’ll be able to attend and pay for a Masters degree? 😦
I got into psychology because I wanted to help others, and I don’t want to be one just for the money. What’s the point of counselling if I find it useless? I’m a hypocrite for refusing counselling…yet it’s one of the fields I wanted to work in…

I’m just rambling at this point lol.

I know I’m young but technically I do have to decide soon. I don’t have any special talents or other passions., so I don’t know what to do. I am not sure if I’m on the wrong path or if I should continue…
Click to expand...
I read there are some research programmes/funding/fellowships at NUS, but I haven’t checked for psychology.

As for me, how I knew…I liked (still do) computers and tinker with things, I was the smarty pants when it came to troubleshooting computers and phones for everyone I knew, so I talked with my uncle and he suggested MIS (Management Information Systems ). I talked to one university counselor because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to study Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or Software Development. He asked me “how do you see yourself in the future, how do you picture yourself in the future, where, doing what…?” And then I knew. But my mistake was that I stuck to the Universities around me instead of aiming for another State (meaning quality and up to date education, in my case), I was a country bumpkin and didn’t dare to get answers to my questions, and I simply assumed that studying out of State was impossible for me. I graduated debt free, because I was under a program that paid the rest after the FAFSA and other honor grants.
Totally out of topic, but can’t hold it…
I love Singapore, I miss the days I lived there and I wish to go back. I’m gonna cry, really the best place I’ve been to. Hubby and I used to attend the Church of St Bernadette (our favorite), St. Ignatius (our second favorite), Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph (for confessions and occasional Traditional Latin Mass), Good Shepherd Cathedral, and Holy Spirit. We were “church hoppers”. We did our Engaged Encounter marriage prep course there too. We bought our stuff at Stadium MRT Cold Storage and the plantains in Little India. We would go out A LOT even at night because it is SUPER safe compared to other places I’ve lived, and no need for a car. The MRT system is so advanced that makes USA look really really bad.
 
Lea,
Have you heard of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? It is more directive in that the counselor explains how the think; there is not so much focus on childhood, etc.

Also,if you were certified to help people, you could make money at your day job and help poor people as a volunteer, which would be very helpful for them.

As to writing, technical writing might be a possibility for you. I have No Idea how that works in Singapore!
 
I’ve found CBT to be extremely helpful. This is much better if you’re interested in helping people come up with strategies to help themselves get through daily life as well as getting to the root of the problem. It’s a more active approach on the counselor’s part.

Kati Morton on YouTube has some very excellent videos that explain various fields of counseling and psychology, as well as giving examples of various kinds of counseling you can specialize in. I’ve never taken any psychology classes beyond the basic psych 101, so I’m not sure what you learn in more specialized classes towards becoming a counselor, but her stuff might be worth a watch if you’re curious to see what’s out there.

youtube.com/user/KatiMorton
 
RuthTherese said:
I’ve found CBT to be extremely helpful. This is much better if you’re interested in helping people come up with strategies to help themselves get through daily life as well as getting to the root of the problem. It’s a more active approach on the counselor’s part.

Kati Morton on YouTube has some very excellent videos that explain various fields of counseling and psychology, as well as giving examples of various kinds of counseling you can specialize in. I’ve never taken any psychology classes beyond the basic psych 101, so I’m not sure what you learn in more specialized classes towards becoming a counselor, but her stuff might be worth a watch if you’re curious to see what’s out there.

youtube.com/user/KatiMorton
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Therapist basically?

Just hope I come across a million dollars one day lol! Would solve a lot of my problems :rolleyes:
 
Rosebud77 said:
Nah, fastest way to ruin a life.
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Psssssshhhhh lol:)

If not I would have to constantly study and worry about being the best so I would have some sort of hope that a university would want me!

That bs shaped me into a terrible terrible mess these past few years. Must be nice to get what you want easily tbh! Although some people take it for granted and start worshipping that instead
 
This, was hard for me. Back when I was in high school, my dream/goal was to be a video game developer. I loved video games and pretty much anything computer related, this was back in the early/mid 1990s. After high school, I eagerly started taking some programming classes only to discover . . . . . . . . I hated programming. I’m 37 now and still don’t know what I want to do.
 
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