So, now that I am a stay-at-home (work-at-home) mom, I have had some time to consider what I might want to do with the rest of my life.
I've been a speech pathologist for nearly twenty years, and honestly, I feel like I have run the course on that particular profession. I enjoyed it, and did some really good work -- I'm still considered a knowledgeable and highly skilled therapist -- and I will never, ever let my certifications and license lapse, but I think I want to do something else with my life.
The problem is....what?
When I think back on college, and choosing my major, I know that I denied myself some career explorations and possible majors because, on the surface, the likelihood of a "good career" or a "well-paying job" was not as evident. I originally started school as a theater and dance major. Then I switched to speech pathology, then to elementary education, then back to speech pathology. Along the way, I had considered art history, English, history, French language and literature, and psychology. It didn't really occur to me that I could major in any of those subjects and go on to grad school and possibly a doctorate, and work in museums or universities or libraries or any of the places I love to be. It seemed like too much work. "Oh God, history? You'd have to write all those papers! Why would you want to do that?" I remember someone saying that to me as a freshman undeclared.
I fed my desire for art and creative stuff by filling my non-speech pathology schedule with drawing and painting classes, ice skating, enough French language to become fully fluent by graduation, at least three dance classes a week, and history and philosophy. After I graduated with a B.S.in speech pathology, I ended up going to grad school anyway, because the entry-level degree for speech pathology is a Masters. I found my niche in two practice areas: the birth to age three population, and the elderly. I practiced, went into management (where I still am, albeit very part time), and now, here I am.
I have the luxury of some time to consider my options and explore my interests. The logical choice would be to further my education in my current profession...I applied to a PhD program, but was denied. I would love to be a professor, but realistically, we are not going to move to chase professorships, so my options would be limited to universities close to Richmond. I'm not really interested in business management or a degree in healthcare admin. I've thought about law school, but I don't really want to be a traditional lawyer, I'm more interested in philosophy and ethics.
What I love is art. I love making things, and teaching other people to make things.
Now if only I can find a way to turn that into a career.
More on this subject later....
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