How did you discover what you were passionate about?

Hi Albert,

Thanks for your question and interest! As a third generation college student, the last career of interest to me was education. You'll laugh about this later. My maternal grandparents were educators, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins on both sides. A few others were in STEM fields.

I've got a strong "got-to-know" personality that was gnawing at me in ninth grade with an urgency to discover my career. Now this was 1968 when all career info was in print or "word of mouth." I was reading a "Junior Scholastic" edition that featured a detailed summary of about 15 careers. Remember, I was on a mission not to be an educator. So, I cut each career, separately, and placed them in a jar. I decided the career I pulled would be the one to research and seriously consider. So, dental hygienist was it.

Again, due to the pre-computer and online era, I researched dental hygiene and colleges using the Encyclopedia. This search started in 1964 and my choices were limited due to segregation. So I followed up in Fall '67 by applying to Howard U and Meharry Medical College. By the way, my parents weren't optimistic about my career choice and insisted I volunteer in a dental office for two summers (after 11th and 12th grade). I was basically a dental assistant, since hygienists must be licensed, and I did some bookkeeping for them also. Great experience for my college applications and resume.

I worked in the field for about eight years; clinical dental hygiene, five years, and public health dental hygiene, three years. Both areas were rewarding but I later desired something different.

Fast forward...I later earned a degree in psychology and master's degree in mental health counseling. Since we relocated and my two sons were school age, someone suggested school counseling; however, I'd never taught school. So I had to work at a private school for two years (they don't require certification) and was later able to work in a public high school in Montgomery County, MD. Collectively, I had 30 years of school counseling.

Several years before retirement, I decided to start a part-time private college/career counseling service for MS/HS students and HS grads. I'm still doing it but with a reduced load.

So that's my story. Former students always found some of the historical data amazing. No regrets with either career and I obviously still have interest in the latter.

Hope this helps!

No matter what...this is what I want to do. My passion is not about money or fame. What ever happens, this is what I choose to do.

I fell in love with teaching when I was 12 and now I'm a foreign language teacher! In college I tried higher education (working at a college or university) and I like that but I knew I still liked teaching more. You have to try out different careers by doing internships and volunteer work. You never know what you could love if you don't try.