horse related careers

[brightwhitestockings]

I need some CoTH wisdom folks!!!!

so I am a junior in high school, and I feel like i'm the only idiot who has no clue what I want to do with my life. :eek: :lol:

Whatever I do, I have to make enough money and have enough spare time for my own horse.

It doesn't necessarily have to be horse related, but that would be a plus. ;) my parents are up my @$$ about college and all that good stuff, so i'm starting to feel panicked that I don't know what I want I want to go to school for or what I want to do in general. :( Here's some things about me-

I LOVE to clean the barn. ;)
I'm really good with kids, and like working with them a lot.
I have to do something that's interesting; think I would die sitting in an office all day. :lol:
my GPA is 3.7, but I passionately HATE math of any kind. my dad keeps telling me i should be an accountant and I almost cry every time he suggests it.
I love taking things that are a MESS and organizing/cleaning them. (i.e. the barn, and really dirty horses!! I love pony makeovers :lol:)

so does anyone have any ideas for me? I'm really at a loss here. any and all suggestions are welcome!!

[LuvMyDressageQH]

If you enjoy working with kids, that might be a good way to have a job that has some hours at school, some hours at home/ on your own time, which would free you up to ride more on your schedule. I'm not a teacher but I have thought about it.

I was in your situation when I was in high school - hated math but everything else came pretty easily to me. I ended up applying to 8 schools and getting in to all but 1, ended up picking the school that was furthest from home ;) plus it had a riding team (IHSA but not varsity, more a club) and it was in sunny Virginia :cool:

I ended up majoring in art with a minor in english. Where I expected to get a job after that, I don't know. I'm still searching for the right fit for me. I did look at the art education programs around my area but I don't know if I am cut out to deal with all the bureaucracy and lack of funding and respect for arts programs I see in so many schools - I think it would end up burning me out very quickly.

That said, I love working with kids too - I worked at summer camp for four years, and enjoy teaching lessons as well. If you wanted to go into teaching I would recommend something that you know will be in demand, like reading, special ed, or science (probably not math since you don't love it). You could also start a riding club at the school you work at, I know of a few around my area that have little interscholastic teams.

Just my .02!

[caffeinated]

so I am a junior in high school, and I feel like i'm the only idiot who has no clue what I want to do with my life.

hahaha!! Trust me, you're not the only one. VERY few people at your age actually do know what they want to do (and heck, I'm 30 and still have no clue what I want to be when I grow up). Those who THINK they do? Most of them change their mind at some point :)

It does sound like something in the education or business (not math- but you like to organize and make things efficient, that kind of thing lends itself to management and business, imo) fields may work out for you. So I would start looking at colleges that have strong programs in those areas, and worry about the rest later :)

So make a list of schools strong in those things, then narrow the list down by things like your size preference (would you prefer a small or large school?), your geographic preferences, if they have riding teams or opportunities, likelihood of getting financial aid/scholarships, and social atmosphere.

Then take your narrowed list and go visit :) Though many colleges don't require interviews, do one anyway. If you're asked what you want to do with your life, be honest.

When you get accepted to college and decide where to go, take some wide ranging classes your first semester. See what sparks your fancy :)

As far as career- many of us have to make a choice at some point when it comes to horses- do you struggle financially to have a career with them? Or do you become the adult ammy, who gets a decent enough job to pay for the horse(s) but gets a little pudgy from sitting at a desk? Also keep in mind that college major doesn't necessarily translate directly to career. I was a psych major, and I work with computers :)

[Arcadien]

Okay, here's my .02 c -

Factoid #1 - At your age no one KNOWS what they want to be/do. They know there are pressures to have something to say when the question comes up, or they THINK they know what they want to be/do, so those are the answers you are hearing. Trust me, the reality is no one KNOWS. ;)

Factoid #2 - college is always a good thing, even considering my Factoid #1. Especially if your parents are supportive of you going. It gives you 4 more years to figure out who you are and what you want, in a relatively safe, supportive, thought provoking environment. When you come out with that degree, no matter what it is in, you now have MORE choices of what to do with your life than you did before. I know it seems like a lot af time to spend when you're not sure what you want, but what you are working on for 4 years is earning yourself vastly more Choices after those 4 years (really a drop in the bucket in the end) are up. Who wouldn't prefer MORE choices rather than less choices, at 21-22?

So, assuming you are going to follow my worldly advice from Factoid #2 <grin>, your only problem now is to decide what college to attend. My advice, a good liberal arts school with a high academic reputation. Then, decide you are going to work for good grades. In 2 years you have to pick a major - right now, just pick a school! Then, get good grades. Eventually settle on a major and continue to get good grades.

What major? If you don't know don't freak out - at that good lib arts school you are getting an invaluable well rounded education. They are teaching you how to think, solve problems, and meet deadlines. Very valuable stuff in the real world. ;)

Make sense? PM me if you want more. I'm mid 40's and just beginning to enjoy spouting advice to people your age LOL.

Regards,
Arcadien, BA Econ/History 1988 - have worked in the last 20 years as riding instr, exercise rider, Director of Finance, fiction writer, Technical Writer, freelance portrait artist, and CFO - hows that for knowing exactly what I want to do, LOLOL!

[sneederstb]

you are not alone in feeling like you dont know what to do. I am out of college and still figuring it out!! dont worry, take your time and figure it out naturally and you will find something you like. but it is true, when it comes time to find a job, sometimes a sacrifice has to be made where your schedule is not flexible...but you work it out...my job is not flexible, so I get out of work at 530 pm, but after work I go ride...even though I hate riding after work when it is dark, but I need to make money in order to support my riding habit! ;) The best thing to do, if you cannot find a job in horses, is to find a job where as you progress, you will start to be able to create your own schedule or work from home...most first jobs out of college unfortunately are not too flexible with hours...I learned that the hard way. good luck!

[sneederstb]

oh! and definately go to college....its true, it gives you more time to ride ;) but is also very important in general..you learn a lot, have fun, and its a wonderful experience to help you grow!

[KnKShowmom]

I totally agree with the Liberal Arts education - expose yourself to as many areas as possible, you never know what might catch your interest.

Also, try to find internships/working student positions over the summers to gain further experience and narrow your focus - your dream job might seem different when you do it every day and you might find you like something you had never considered even better!

Good Luck - and don't worry, I'm in my 40's and still wonder what I want to be when I grow up! :D

[gully's pilot]

Absolutely, don't panic. Be excited about college, view it as a chance to find out more about what you like--and if you hate math, don't be an accountant! Don't even worry about pleasing your parents right now, except for by exploring your college choices with enthusiasm. Once you get on campus, you can take whatever classes you like.

I started out thinking I'd be a Biochem major, hated my first semester bio class, loved my first semester chemistry class, thought about minoring in psych or English but could never fit one of the psych classes into my schedule and dreaded the mandatory Chaucer class (so didn't minor in anything). Loved riding, haunted the barn in my free time. Did the premed requisities, was accepted into medical school. Hated it; dropped out after 2 months (good choice!). Worked as a research chemist 4 1/2 years while hubby finished medical school. Wrote and rode in my spare time--quit chemistry to become a novelist.

Moral of my story: don't worry about knowing what you want to do. And my time with horses has increased as I get older, mostly because I can afford it. I don't recommend planning a career with horses unless you absolutely can't imagine anything else, and even then I don't really recommend it--low pay, very hard work with long hours.

[AppendixQHLover]

Your not alone in this feeling.

Your grades are high enough that you can get into most schools.

What about working in the medical field? Go to school and become a x-ray technician, sonographer, or any of those. That is a field of work that is growing. It is a college degree that is required.

I wouldn't want to be an accountant either. I am good at math for the most part. I got a A in statistics and found it fun. What do I do for work....Programmer. I use that logic that is done in math to do IT work.

Don't skip going to college. IF your parents are willing to pay for it, and you will not graduate with 80K in debt go for it. Also try to get into a college that you can live in a dorm. :D

**I graduated in 2007 from a Technical University. I completely did it online while working Full-time. I am now going for my Master's degree. My undergrad is Business Administration. My MA will be in Management. My career - Application Development.

[Bugsey_2007]

This sounds a bit like me when I was at school. I had a go at starting to do just business at college but changed courses ever so quick and went to do a combined degree in equine science and sports coaching and sports management.

It was a compromise because what I really wanted to do was just go straight to work but I'm glad I did it because it was better for me in the long run and gave me a good academic grounding so I'm not just shovelling poo for the rest of my life. It also made my parents understand I was serious about really wanting to work with horses and not just mess about.

[brightwhitestockings]

thanks guys!
it makes me feel a WHOLE lot better to hear i'm not a defunct teenager for not knowing what my purpose in life is :lol:

as far as college goes, it's never been a question whether or not to go. My dad just keeps making me feel like I should know where I want to go and what I want to major in. As well as my school- i'm about damn sick of assemblies and packets and surveys about colleges/careers!!! :lol: I know it's there to help though.

i've been thinking pediatric nurse for a while... that way i would get to work with kids, do something stimulating, and have enough time to do the horse thing on the side. ;) What do you guys think?

[tkhawk]

thanks guys!
it makes me feel a WHOLE lot better to hear i'm not a defunct teenager for not knowing what my purpose in life is :lol:



Heck some people I know in their fifties don't know what the purpose of life is.
It takes time to figure out what you want. Having a good education gives you more options. You are young-have your whole life ahead of you. I know people who were software engineers , got bored and became doctors and so many other people with different career changes mid life. You are young-Enjoy life!!:)

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

I switched as a junior from studio arts to biochemistry (I was going to be a famous writer/illustrator/equestrienne, when anybody asked). When I graduated with my PhD, the half of my class that left science turned out to be the ones who thought they knew they wanted to do science by the age of 6 (on the other hand, I went to the Rockefeller University in NYC which is a totally weird place and so that attrition rate may not be normal for other places). The point is, even people absolutely sold on a career path change their minds. A LOT.

Your parents are right about college (sorry). You can still work with horses if you so choose, and there are many options, but you have time to sort these things out.

You are doing the right thing by asking questions and fielding responses. Eventually you'll hit upon something that works for you.

[amastrike]

Pharmacy! Best field ever. Tons of demand for the job, you make tons, and you can get pharmacies to pay for part of your education if you agree to work for them. Plus, depending on your setting (Walgreens versus a hospital pharmacy), you work excellent hours.

I so wish I'd sucked up the chemistry and just done pharm.

[Mendin Fences]

Elementary school teacher! (Or music, art, phys ed, etc.) You can teach, be creative, play with, and clean up after kids. You will have time to do horsey things in the afternoons/on weekends/all summer, JOB SECURITY (they'll always need teachers somewhere). Don't pick a career that doesn't have job security, that's really important in today's economy, especially if you're planning to support your horse habit.

[IronwoodFarm]

I believe there is a statistic that says the average worker makes 7 career changes in his/her lifetime. I certainly have worked for 7 different employers in 5 different types of work and I'm in the process of changing my career focus again. So honestly, don't worry about it. Very few people stay in the same career for their entire life any more.

[caffeinated]

Have you done any job shadowing?

It might be worthwhile to call a few local employers in the fields you are interested and see if you can spend a day or two seeing what the professions really entail :) A lot of high schools help organize that sort of thing, but there's no reason you can't do it yourself.

I spent a very interesting day in the pathology lab of a local hospital once, when I was thinking that might be an interesting career for me (and it was! if only there wasn't so much chemistry involved in the necessary degrees, LOL)

[Hunter Mom]

I do have to agree with your parents - college gives you SO many options that you wouldn't have otherwise. I work in an urban high school and see kids every day who want to do "something" but don't plan to go to college. Sigh. At least I'll know the kid who waits on me at McDonald's next year. That said, I've got multiple degrees and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up, so I'm still in high school :).

So you're not into math - there are a lot of careers that don't require a lot of math. (Just so you know, my background IS math, so that was a hard sentence for me to write!). Many only require College Algebra and most will let you take it at a community college and transfer - which I strongly recommend if you're not a math person. Two other bonuses to doing that - you can get it out of the way during high school and it is usually a lot cheaper than tuition at a 4 year college.

If you do like kids, education is a VERY rewarding career. You can have your summers off, which is also nice. The down side is that you don't get to pick when you want to take off (I get 2 personal days a year, and since I have an extended contract year, I only get July off). There are large numbers of teachers who are retiring, so jobs are available.

Another thought might be to look into colleges that offer equine studies programs. With that, you could work as a barn manager/trainer/instructor/etc. I don't know of any in your area, but I'm sure they're there. I am familiar with William Woods in Fulton, MO.

Another career choice - vet tech. Ask your counselor at school to give you some help in doing career surveys. There are lots out there. If you don't have a decent one, PM me and I can get you more information on where you can find them.