I’m trying to imagine what it was like in my grandmother’s days, or my great-grandparents times. I’m pretty sure Bubby Rochel didn’t sit down with a career coach to decide if she would feel more satisfied working in her parents’ store or apprenticing with the neighborhood seamstress. Life was so simple then. Not that I’m complaining — I think it’s amazing that I have so many options, and I actually get to choose something I’ll be good at, as opposed to just doing whatever’s expected of me, like it used to be. But it sure is hard to choose. I think of it like choosing toothpaste — I sure am glad there are choices, and I can change at different stages of my life (I only recently outgrew strawberry flavor, so I know…) but it can be so hard to choose! There are just so many good choices, and I always wonder, what if I find something I like better?

So, in my mind, I’m standing in the career aisle in the Supermarket of Life. (I will not try to imagine what’s coming up in the next aisle…) I have to choose one career, even though they all look so shiny and nice. The list of skills that I need are listed on the side of each career box, on the front is the price of getting there, and on the back are instructions on how I can use this career. I also have to consider what happens if my career is out of stock or discontinued! If only it was as simple as choosing one off the shelf.

Visualizing a store helped me get through our next session, as I pictured each job as a choice. The first list included a hairstylist, a chef, a gym teacher, an exercise coach, a physical therapist, a paramedic, and a nurse. These all fit my skills and personality well, and all were things that interested me. Now I had to decide if I wanted an option that would require more schooling, or something I could jump into and start right away. I nixed hairstylist because of the hours. I also concluded that I prefer exercise and fitness over the medical field.

So, we’ve narrowed it down to food or fitness. Which makes me laugh out loud in the middle of the meeting. I’m imagining running a bakery and a gym next door to each other! I can totally see those two businesses “working out” well together! At least my sense of humor will be a skill I’ll always have! (Excerpted from Teen Pages, Issue 738)