[nabs-l] Some Questions...

Sat Jun 8 02:54:25 UTC 2013

Hello Kerri.  I really like all the suggestions others have already
stated.  Here are my thoughts.  Kerri, like others have already said,
think about what things you like to do.  What are your strengths.  For
me, I am almost done with my associates degree at a local comunity
college.  I know I am good with computers, and have done a few online
presentations on various programs.  Since I enjoy using and learning
about different assistive technology, I'd like to become an assistive
tech teacher.  If you do go to a comunity, taking General education
classes is ok.  The nice thing about doing this, is once you've taken
your required classes, you can take electives which are classes you
want to take based on whatever your interests are.  I am also good at
guitar playing, and I have an ear for music.  So, I took a class which
was music for elementary teachers.  I received an A, a 98% in the
class, because I could already play the acoustic guitar.  Even though,
I'm going to college to become an assistive technology teacher, I'm
not going to forget about my love of listening to, and playing music.
Talk to your VR counselor and voice your concerns to him, I'm glad you
respect him, but he shouldn't mind, if you're unsure of what to do,
now that you've had some training.  Remember, asking about things
you're not sure of isn't a weaknes, but a strength.  Also, advocate
for yourself, if you want things done, make the calls, get sighted
help when you need it.  An example, for my online class I'm going to
take in the fall, I knew I needed to find out how much the class was
going to cost.  I know I could have had my dad look up the info
online, but I called the college, and got in touch with the proper
people who handle payments for classes and that kind of thing.  I know
taking an online class for me will be different, as I've never taken
one before, but, I'm going to do it, and if I need help, I'll ask for
it.  I know, it can be hard, I didn't ask for help when I first began
college, but now, it has gotten easier.  Good luck Kerri, I know you
can do anything you put your mind to.

On 6/7/13, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Kerri,
>
> Lillie and others have made some excellent points thus far.  Here's
> what I have to add.  Again, anyone else feel free to correct/add to
> this.
>
> Each person is different, but for me I found what I wanted to do and
> my major in college by trying out a few different fields early on.  I
> did some volunteering under music therapists, (which eventually led me
> to choose music therapy as a major and vocation), but I also tried out
> a college prep teaching program to explore teaching as a career.  I
> also chose courses that interested me, E.G. I took a psychology course
> because I also considered going into psychology.  Eventually, when I
> had to make the decision between a bunch of linked fields,
> Middle-Childhood English Education, special education, Psychology,
> music education, and music therapy, it came down to what I liked most
> and the academic subjects that suited me the best.  The best way to do
> it if you can is to take the opportunities you have to take courses
> and turn them into career exploration exercises.
>
> If that isn't an option because you're out of high school already,
> there are other options available.  If you think you have a field you
> might want to check out you could try taking an intro course to that
> field.  In order to cut down on expense you could try taking this
> course at a community college or tech school if you don't want to jump
> into a university right away.  As Lillie suggested, you could also try
> entering school as undecided and then take the general courses
> required to graduate while you do some career searching and figure out
> what you might want to do.  Then you'd just have to finish your degree
> requirements and take the courses specific to your major once your
> gen-eds are out of the way.
>
> But most importantly, give some serious thought to two things; what do
> you like to do, and what are you good at?  Are you a good writer?  Do
> you like to research?  Do you have good people skills?  Do you
> like/are savvy with computers?  These kinds of questions would be good
> ways to help you figure out what possible vocations might be.
>
> I would also talk to other blind adults who might be able to provide
> insight from their own experiences with choosing careers.  A lot of
> them in the federation I've talked to have even held several different
> jobs in adulthood, and even gone back to school and totally switched
> jobs later in life.  They would be great resources for this sort of
> thing.
>
> Most importantly, remember that although this is an important
> decision, and it is intimidating for everyone who makes it, it isn't
> necessarily final.  It's great to have a plan, but even the best plans
> can change along with interests and other such factors.  Take the
> suggestions of others on this thread, take some time to think, and
> don't get too freaked out would be my advice.  It's a big decision,
> but you'll get it and have plenty of people to help you out.
>
> Feel free to write me off list if you have any questions.
>
> On 6/7/13, Lillie Pennington <lilliepennington at fuse.net> wrote:
>> Hi Kerri,
>> I'm going to attempt to answer your questions. I don't know everything,
>> but
>> hopefully some of this will help. Anyone feel free to correct
>> information/add something I may have missed.
>>
>> Generally, a career is picked based on what you have a passion for or
>> like
>> doing. It is also based on what major in college you had, if you went to
>> college, but I think the process is different for each person.
>> Personally,
>> what I want to do is based on what I had a passion for.
>>
>> I'd give the same advice for chosing a major; think about what you like
>> to
>> do and what you could possibly see yourself doing in life. Maybe try
>> looking
>> on a colleges website and look at the list of majors and for each one
>> think
>> "could I see myself doing that or a related field in my life?"
>> Also, many colleges have "undecided" options, where you start by taking
>> "general" classes that go towards any degree. You go through these
>> classes
>> in hopes that you'll decide or learn something in one of these classes
>> that
>> will trigger the want to major in that. For example, if you took a
>> marketing
>> class and found a love of it, you could possibly consider majoring in
>> marketing.
>>
>> There's personally no way, in my opinion, to "find" your passion or want,
>> it
>> comes to you. Confidence also grows over time as well, along with
>> internal
>> motivation.
>>
>> You could talk to people from the center about what to do, as well as
>> your
>> state counselor. Both parties have probably delt with people in a similar
>> position. They also may have more guidance for you on your other
>> questions.
>>
>>
>> I am not exactly sure what jobs can be done with or without a degree;
>> you'd
>> have to probably ask your state counselor or someone else about that.
>>
>> What did you like doing in training? That could lead to a job choice.
>> What
>> were you doing before you entered training?
>> There are most likely other jobs you can do at Duncan doughnuts besides
>> taking orders. I'd look at their website or maybe call their manager for
>> ideas.
>>
>> I hope this helps, and if you have any other questions, let me know.
>>
>> Lillie
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kerri Kosten
>> Sent: Friday, June 07, 2013 7:44 PM
>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list; Ed McDonald;
>> karen;
>> Anjelina Cruz; Kea.anderson at gmail.com; dsmithnfb at gmail.com; Arielle
>> Silverman
>> Subject: [nabs-l] Some Questions...
>>
>> Hi Everyone:
>>
>> I don't want to say too much on a public list, so I am going to try to
>> keep
>> this very general and just ask my questions.
>> Basically, how did you decide what you wanted to do in life for a career?
>> How did you pick your major?
>> If you do not have much confidence in yourself, how did you find out what
>> you were passionate about/wanted to do?
>> How did you find internal motivation?
>> How did you decide whether to go to school, or just get a job?
>> What jobs can blind people do without a degree?
>> What jobs can a blind person do just to gain confidence in themselves
>> until
>> they find direction?
>> I find myself really struggling now that I am out of training. I did
>> really
>> well in training, but the goals I set in training do not apply now in the
>> situation I am in because those goals were training specific. I think I
>> also
>> did really well in training because it was a routine and I got used to
>> it.
>> I
>> was also always told what to do, or knew what I needed to work on in each
>> class.
>> I am really struggling finding motivation now that I am on my own and
>> don't
>> have the training center staff encouraging me, pushing me, and telling me
>> what to do.
>> My problem I think is if I am scared of someone, or I really
>> respect/admire
>> someone, or I am intimidated by someone, I will work as hard as I can and
>> make sure to do everything they say. But, when just left to myself, on my
>> own, I really really struggle to find motivation, make decisions about
>> things, and find direction.
>> Does anyone else find themselves struggling with this kind of thing after
>> training or am I the only one?
>> How have you gotten through it and found direction/your passion and what
>> you
>> wanted to do?
>> The problem is my Rehab counselor called me today. He is someone I really
>> respect. I am now stressing out because I want to at least have a plan
>> for
>> him when I return his call. I at least want him to think that after
>> spending
>> so much money to send me to training, I am motivated and am doing things
>> and
>> taking some sort of action rather than sitting around.
>> But, I have no idea what jobs to look for or what to do. A Dunkin Donuts
>> just opened here recently. Is there anything I could do there?
>> I just want to show my counselor I have been doing something or at least
>> have a plan.
>> Thanks so much, and I look forward to reading your responses!
>> Kerri
>>
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>
>
> --
> Kaiti
>
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-- 
Joshua T Hendrickson