Are you doing what you planned to do?

I recently received an invitation for my 20th high school reunion. Man, I am getting old!

It made me think back to when I graduated. I went to college majoring in Mathematics, with intentions on being a high school teacher. After two years, Differential Equations, Physics, and a few other things, I changed my mind and my major. I graduated with a degree in Business Management and immediately took a job in Inventory Control and Materials Management. I was then a Purchasing Manager for 10 years. Now, I have scrapped all of that, and am trying to decide what my next path is going to be.

Is anyone doing what they planned they would do?

IRght now no. I planned on being in college and becoming a teacher. I wanted to teach 2nd grade. Right now I am doing accounting (something I NEVER thought I would be doing as I hate math).I still have time to get on track though.

Nope, I never finished college, so that kinda ruined my plan of being a psychologist and then I worked at a restaurant for a couple years, and I knew without a doubt that I did NOT want to do that for the rest of my life. My current job basically fell into my lap (thanks to my Ma) and they will have to drag me kicking and screaming from this joint-30 years here I come! only 23 more

oh yeah, and this year is my tenth reunion, but I haven't recieved anything about it

Kinda!

I graduated from High School and went to a 2 year college and graduated with a major in Business Management & Administration. I always new I wanted to work in a car dealership, and in an office environment - and here I am! In a body shop, managing the office!

I'm only 22, so I have plenty of time to change, but right now, I'm getting the experience I need to do something better I'd really like to do something in HR - time will tell!

Yup! Horses have been the only thing to keep my interest for any significant period of time. I started riding when I was nine. Lost the support of my parents halfway through highschool so for the last 6 years I have been catching whatever rides I could, working in a barn whenever I can. I just finished my last semester in college as a Broadcasting major (a backup in case I am ever injured and cannot ride) and now I am finally getting to focus 100% on my riding. To a lot of people, I sound crazy, but I want to make it my career and I have olympic goals. The job I am taking in June is with someone who will help me reach my goals, and I will hopefully help her with her's on the way (without going into too much detail she wants to create a school in America where traditional riding and a good foundation can be taught). Eventually I want to help people who were/are like me with not much financial support. Kind of like giving a helping hand to those reaching for their dreams I guess. Anyway, that is the short of it. I could go on and on but I'll spare you all that.

Not at all!

I went to college right after high school planning to get a degree in journalism. That went as planned, but nothing else has. I was hoping to get a job working for a big daily newsaper after I graduated. I also figured I meet the right guy, fall in love, marriage, kids, etc... But, while I was still in college, I enlisted the Army Reserves and enjoyed it so much that I went on active duty after I graduated and served five years. When I got out, the first job I could find was as a manager at Bob Evans. Did that for a couple of years, then quit to work as a claims adjuster at an insurance company.
That was pretty cool. because I worked my way up to investigating fraudulent claims. Could have made it a career, but deep down knew there was something else I was meant to do, which led to the nun thing.

So, much for any plans I may have had!

Nope, I went to school for Hotel Management..and then quickly realized after 3 years of making no money that it would not work out for me.

Insurance it is!

Not on my original track either!

After graduating HS, I wanted to be a music teacher. Two years into music, I scrapped that, then wanted to be a Web Designer. Finished college with this background, but took a job in computer support since web designers were a thing of the past. Now I'm an I.T. Manager, bored with it and am going back to school this fall for a Masters in Information Security.
The weird thing is that when I'm done with the business world, I want to go back and teach...

I majored in Experimental Foods and Nutrition/Dietetics with a Chemistry minor.
I had a job working for one of the professors exploring some sort of compound but his grant was cut to there went that job!! I wanted to be a food scientist-developing new food products something like that. So after college I was a nutritionist at a health club (the club closed). Then worked for the WIC
(women's-infants-children) program for 3 yrs got burnt out-did temping for a yr or so until I landed at FMCC which was 20 yrs. Now I'm the boss during landscaping (but I have a large veg garden and experiment w/recipes!!)

BTW my 20th reunion was a blast!!

Out of high school I wanted to go to Uni with a major in geography and hope for a job in urban planning. I wanted a double major in political science or a minor in english.

Right now I'm in Uni, major political science (school doesnt have a geography department!) and my plan is to teach 4-8 grades social studies/language arts. Right now my minor is english, however I no longer want to work for the govenment unless its a really nice job offer! I'd rather teach.

Also, along the way I've gotten my A.A.S in culinary arts!

I really think that there are few people out there that actually do what they originally planned.
Part of it is that you get out into the "real" world and you discover that your choice of career isn't all what its cracked up to be.
For others, they may have gotten burned out quicker than others...such as if you're in a fast pace industry.

Does anything ever work out so ideally, Karen? I'm at least still in the right ball park. I went to Nursing School to continue for my Masters in Nurse Midwifery, changing that to Family Nurse Practitioner along the way and then getting stuck working with the intentions to return to school. I've worked as a Pediatric Nurse for years and have just this year begun working as a Psych Nurse in an Adolescent facility. Now, I desperately want to return to school, this time, though, I'm planning to get my degree in Psychology. Honestly, though, I'd love to scrap it all and be a Feline Specialist! I may never know for sure what I want to be when I grow up!

Me, not by a long shot. I didn't think I had the grades and couldn't afford going to school to be a vet. I went to school for Human Services, but soon found out that there was so much red tape that actually helping anyone would be rare. Some things happened (small town crapola) that disenchanted me so much I never went back to it. I'm an office manager - never thought I would be and never took a business course.

My husband (newlywed and love saying husband ) is doing exactly what he planned. He is a landscaper and has been for 32 years. He never had any desire to do anything else. He realized a long time ago that it wouldn't make him a rich man. It has made him a wonderful and happy man though. He's doing what he loves.

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Does anything ever work out so ideally, Karen?

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No, I really don't think that is does, which is why I was wondering if it had for anyone. So far, not many

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

No, I really don't think that is does, which is why I was wondering if it had for anyone. So far, not many

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I really want to see you in a pic of you Prom, ... my friend! can you share it with us?

Is not a mandatory!,....Just for ask

Nope not me. I wanted to be a hairstylist and ended up a teacher LOL

Hmm.... I honestly think it may be at my parent's house. I don't know if I ahve it . I will look around.

Oky Doky! ....no problem! .....

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

I recently received an invitation for my 20th high school reunion. Man, I am getting old!

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YES! ....May I to suggest ...

and good Luck ...if you decide to go at the Party! ....

So far, yes. Which is saying a lot as about 60% of the people I started college with will or already have dropped out of the program.

When I graduated high school, I wanted to go to music school and get a performance degree and do something in the field of music for a living.

I truly thought I'd be at Indiana University or University of Michigan rather than where I ended up, but this school gave me a lot more money and I just have a connection with my applied teacher here that I didn't have with the IU guy (who is either leaving or has left that school?) or the U of M lady, although I've recently reconnected with her, so perhaps to Ann Arbor for grad school?

I also figured I'd get married right out of school if I ever got married. Not sure why, I just figured that if I was going to find someone, it'd be while I was in school.