An early online discussion thread in my CSU Strategic Writing class asks students to choose one career option of interest, do a quick bit of research on number and pay and prospects, and then share with the class. Everyone is required to respond to at least two of their classmates.
I was browsing and commenting randomly myself on some of the early posts this morning and I am intrigued by how many of those students seem to have a fairly firm idea of what they would like to do in the future, at least initially. I mean, who knows where life will take us as technology and history and personal interests expand?
When I compare them to my own memory of dreams of a career, I find that I had almost no idea when I was in my early 20s about the future, much less about what I might do to earn a living.
I think I had some dim notion of law school as an option but once the Air Force, marriage, and fatherhood became a reality, I don't think I seriously returned to that idea. I remember being momentarily interested in working for the post office... my military service would give me a boost in getting hired, and a steady paycheck sounded attractive after leaving the service. After all, for my first few months in the Air Force I was paid $100/month. Kathleen got another $100 as a dependent stipend once we married. My pay tripled early in 1972 when Nixon signed a new defense bill. So we were raking in $400 a month there.
No wonder Kathleen took a job at the officer's club running the cash register and hosting. It was a day job, which was nice. I have no idea how much she was paid, but anything would certainly help.
On the other hand, our monthly rent for our little bungalo in Lakenheath village came to about 100 pounds per month (about $240 U.S.) and Kathleen remembers each bag of groceries she picked up in the BX averaged $5.
My point is that I certainly had no lofty dreams of a big income. Niether of us did.
We both ended up working for the government in one way or another, me for the Iowa City public schools and she for the UI. Kathleen likes to tell the story of getting a job in a copy center on the Iowa campus soon after we returned from North Dakota (after my discharge).
I had set up an interview for myself for the part-time gig but something happened and I couldn't attend. Kathleen showed up instead, impressed (obviously) and got the job. The led to her soon moving to a customer service job with UI Printing.
I was at the end of my undergrad degree in 1975 and looking for local teaching jobs. I honestly have no memory of why that profession. I had always been good at school and I certainly had some fine teachers in my past.
I made an appointment with Father Gene Benda, then principal at Regina, my alma mater, who had once been my Religion class instructor. He almost immediately offered me a job, though there were no English openings. He did have a 7th and 8th grade math and science job open, plus coaching options.
I told him I really didn't have much training in math or science but he assured me that just keeping a page or two ahead of the kids would be enough to get me going. Pretty high standards! The next year, June Braverman retired and an English job opened, along with advising the yearbook and newspaper.
Bottom line in my wandering career story: things seemed to just happen. I'm sure we made decisions and had a few options, but Iowa City was not a big place and options were not limitless. And we now had two daughters who we had to take care of.
Not surprisingly, it all turned out well, as far as we were concerned. Humans are great at seeing the path when it's in the rear view mirror, of course. Hindsight is 20-20, etc.
That is why I find it a little strange that I teach a class that includes career planning, writing resumes and cover letters, and other professional documents.
Perhaps I should share the truth: most of our plans get changed along the way. The good news is that we can still do OK. It certainly helps to have a partner as it all works out.
I guess Kathleen and I are still gliding forward, often surprised by what we find.
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