Dream high, but plan ahead

This post will stray from my thankfulness.  I am aiming to help my younger friends and family.

I don't like to live and dwell on "what-ifs," but in this case I make an exception.  If I could go back and change my college major, I probably would.  However, if I was able to change that, I would not be the person that I am.  While I may think, "Whoa is me," I am very lucky to be in the condition that I am.

For those that don't know, I was a history major and religion minor in my undergrad studies.  I was and am very interested in those topics, but I wish I had realized that job opportunities are limited.  Sure, I could and may become a teacher of history.  I am not blaming my college in anyway and it is ultimately my decision, but I wish they would encourage us to think about our future job opportunities.  Yes, my college has a great Career Center that works with students, but I think they fall into the category of "not wanting to crush a student's dream."  I seemed to understand the school's message to be that we should follow our dreams.

It is difficult to see hundreds of jobs only for business majors (accounting, marketing, finance, supply chain, etc...) and very, very few for the liberal arts.  Even though there are very few obvious career paths that lead from a liberal arts degree (teacher, "further education," writer, ...), there is value in what can be learned.  An eye for details and an ability to pare down "the fluff" and get to the point are both priceless skills.  However, I never see those in the "Qualifications" section of job listings.  I see "1-3 years of ________experience needed."  Hey, how come ENTRY-level jobs require experience....something isn't right there.  (Sorry, that was a side-note.)

I think of myself as being primarily a realist.  Optimists see me as a pessimist and pessimists think I am wasting my time.  I hope and pray for the best, but I do my best to prepare for the worst.  I would rather someone tell me that I am fat or annoying than "husky" or "opinionated."  I wish that someone would have told me early on in my college career that I do need to follow my dreams, but pursue what is realistic and sensible.

All this to say...dream high, but plan ahead.

I hope this helps someone.