Career Counseling

It seems to me that by the age of 30 you should really have your career goals kind of figured out. Unfortunately for me, that's not the case. I am a teacher, which I enjoy for several reasons. I really like the kids, I have some control over what I do every day, and I like the autonomy. I also like the eight weeks we get off during the summer (yes, you read that correctly--teachers do not get three months off. If we're lucky, we get two months off), especially now that I have a little one. On the flip side, there are also several things I really don't like about teaching. I hate getting up at 5 am to get to work by 7 am. I hate the pay and the lousy benefits. Call me greedy if you like, but I really would be happier if I didn't have to worry constantly about how we are going to pay our bills every month and how I am going to be able to afford the health insurance that costs a quarter of my salary. I also really hate the district shenanigans. I have known since my first year of teaching that I wouldn't be doing this forever, at least not on the k-12 level.

Now, however, I am faced with the same dilemma I was faced with before I settled on teaching as a job, er, career: What should I do when I grow up? Some people have a dearth of possible careers. I actually suffer from a plethora of possible careers and I don't know which is the most viable. Many of my career options require more schooling, which isn't a problem for me except that I have to wait for L. to finish his PhD program before I can start. All require hard work, which also isn't a problem for me. Some of them scare me more than others, which should tell me something--I'm just not sure what.

So, in honor of my struggle to choose a new career path, please answer my career poll to the left. Let me tell you what's important to me in a job in order to help you vote. Ready? Okay: autonomy, creativity, decent salary (at least $45,000 to start), challenge, sense of accomplishment, plenty of vacation time. Thanks for your input and help.*

*The posting of the poll in no way implies or suggests that I will actually use the results to make any current or future career choices. Come on, guys. I'm not that desperate.