Community Chat

[software]

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@roeroe1005 wrote:

This is an interesting topic!

I always wanted to be in the fashion world.  When I was a teen-ager, I would love to draw my ideas of fashion.  

And I wanted to go away to college.  My Italian father forbid it.  So I went to secretarial school, took classes to be a medical secretary.

After graduation, I got a job in a food company - not very medical.  And that's where I stayed for 30 years.  I somehow got into the legal department of my company.  Became a notary, got my paralegal certificate - all paid for by that food company.  And ended up as an Executive Legal Assistant working in international.

But I did get to work in fashion - while working full time, I got a part time job at Saks 5th Avenue.  Even though it was part time, I stayed there almost 20 years.  It was as far away from mergers and acquisitons as I could get!

When that ended, I got into the school system and was able to retire as a state employee.  Good benefits, pension (also from my previous job), my health care is fairly inexpensive considering what I would have paid elsewhere.

But to this day, I do regret not going away to college.

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You probably would have done better than I did but going away to college is not what it's cracked up to be.     I am an only child, my parents were ridiculous disciplinarians.   I escaped by going to college far from home but I was too immature to handle the classes and new freedom.  I lasted a year and a half.    I still don't regret my choices.    I ultimately made the college town my new home town, going on over 40 years now.  And pursued college when I had a bit more maturity.

I enjoyed reading your post

[lulu1]

When I entered college in 1967, my career choices were extremely limited.  Probably 75% of the female enrollees majored in education with an area/minor in a subject area.  (in my case, mathematics)  In order to gain a secondary mathematics teaching certificate in my state, I enrolled in a masters in mathematics program.  While I enjoyed my teaching career, I wish I'd  had other career choices. 

Who knows where those choices would have led me?

[patbz]

@lulu1 :  I graduated from college in 1966 and you are so right about the lack of career choices (executive secretary, teaching or nursing.  I was always a rebel and wanted "none of the above" so I majored in American Literature (to prepare for nothing...).  I was recruited to go overseas as a Recreation Specialist.  I didn't follow the herd when it came to getting married (got around to it at 40 and motherhood at 45).  I took my opportunities when they presented themselves and retired from Federal Government (usually I was involved with people problems such as personnel, transition to Civilian life, after military).  I got to go everywhere and try many different things and I wouldn't change anything because I love my husband and my family.