Question from a 9th grader: How did you get started in your career, and what choices helped you the most?

Hello! I am a 14-year-old 9th-grade student from the United States. For a school assignment, I am exploring potential future career paths and learning about what it takes to succeed in the professional world.

I have a wide range of interests right now, including therapy/mental health, law enforcement, law, architecture, writing, and military service (especially the Air Force).

If you work in any of these fields, I would love to hear your insights. To help me complete my assignment data, please include the following background information at the beginning of your response:

Occupation:

Current Age:

Sex:

The year you started working in this field:

The Country and State you work in:

Company name (if you are comfortable sharing) or general field:

In your reply, please also include these details about your journey:

Your Journey: How did you get started, and what steps did you take to get where you are today (such as specific classes, internships, or volunteering)?

Opportunities: How did you find those opportunities, and what were the main benefits of doing them?

Decisions: What opportunities did you choose to take—or pass up—and why?

Obstacles & Advice: Is there anything currently holding people back in your field, and what do you recommend a student my age do (or avoid doing) to move forward?

Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your input! Your advice will help me a lot as I plan my next steps.