5 Years Time

If someone asked me 5 years ago what they think I would be doing in 5 years time, I think my reaction would pretty much be a shoulder shrug and possibly a sentence or two about how I'd hope to have graduated and possibly be travelling. Although that was a generic response for most things, I actually never had one direction. I was pretty much confused and unsure of what I wanted to have achieved by this point.

I look back now, and wonder what I was actually doing around 2006/7 and I see how unhappy I was with everything. Yes, I know I've mentioned it before, so I won't repeat it again, but from that point until the middle of university I was still very unsure with what I wanted to do in terms of employment and career choices. I was adamant in staying within Psychology, such as working within Mental Health Services or Forensics (I know, two different routes unless I wanted to do Forensics and Mental health together, which is pretty interesting). But as time went on, I realised that, in order to succeed in either fields I would need more education and definitely specific experiences, as it is with any kind of field in Psychology. Although this aspect of my so called "career decision" remains just an idea, it may be something I'd like to pursue later in the future when the recession hasn't ruined the planet as it has, and when the UK Government decides to ease the Education cuts/increases.

It dawned on me over the last year of my degree that I enjoyed working with students. Both the roles I had whilst working at University, were very student-oriented. With that in mind, post-graduation I went into an application frenzy. I applied for everything. Anything. Something. Every day. Non-stop. So now that I do have a job, (I thought I would throw that in there by the way!) and it does involve student interaction I am pretty happy. Although I have to say, I find I use my mac much less now. I guess he needed a break too. It feels so weird not going to the same websites every day to look for new jobs, and post applications one after the other continuously like a robot. Its a good weird though, which I am certainly not complaining about.

So, to carry on my thoughts about this whole "in 5 years time where would you like to be" idea, I think I am pleasantly surprised to where I am currently. I think it's good to have a rough idea as to where you'd like to be by a certain age or time in terms of careers/education and life plans, but to set an actual target is a little too presumptuous. I guess it could work with some people, but I know for sure that I don't work well with long-term plans, as I've always found circumstances and life to be far to uncertain and ever-changing to actually set anything in stone. Hah, perhaps it is sceptical. You can judge.

The only constant hope I have for my future is that I am happy and content with whatever I am doing and wherever I may be. I don't want to look back in 5 years time and shake my head in dismay at how foolish I was not to have taken more chances, leaps of faith and all that fancy stuff. I'd hate to turn in to the "shoulda woulda coulda" person.

My new favourite song. Here it is. Absolutely perfect.