[nabs-l] What I Think I Want To Do...More Questions...

[Ashley Bramlett]

Kerri,

Wow, you have many related interests.
You said,
"My interests are sports, braille, rehabilitation counseling,
rehabilitation teaching, journalism, reading, writing, and
communications."

Well, the reading, writing, and communications can all be combined. I think 
you should go back to school and pursue communications with a minor in
english or even creative writing if they have such a minor.
Some universities ask you to pick a emphisis in communications and if so 
yours can be journalism.

You are right journalism has many transferable skills. I also like your 
passion for teaching blind people.
That will take a masters degree though. I think there's more job options in 
pursuing writing as a career as a journalist or sports columnist.

I'd also echo what others said.
Get some volunteer experience in the fields
you may want to have a career in. Try and get some mentors, even sighted 
mentors can teach you a lot about a typical day and typical job duties.
Also use college, if you end up going, to college, there are many ways to 
use your reading and writing skills beyong the classroom. You can also be a 
leader too which looks good on your resume.
Some ways are writing for the college newspaper, joining clubs and 
volunteering to be secretary, offering to publicize events with articles and 
flyers,
writing for your school literature magazine, and even attending sports 
events and sending in your stories to the local paper for guest publication 
are options.

As for self confidence, just do what you want  and you will develop some 
confidence. Also try and be active because exercise makes you feel better. 
Join a community center if you have one or the local YMCA. If none 
available, join a gym if you can afford it.
Go run or ride a bike with a buddy. Also, set goals and break them down in 
small steps so you''re not overwelmed.

Also, I think there's some books through nls that may help you have better 
self esteem through the advice they give. For instance, I know there is a 
book called Seven habits of effective people or something like it. Its by 
Stephen Covy.
Try and find it; I haven't read it, but heard it discusses what habits make 
people successful and how to do them.

HTH,
Ashley

-----Original Message----- 
From: Kerri Kosten
Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2013 7:02 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list ; Ed McDonald ;
karen
Subject: [nabs-l] What I Think I Want To Do...More Questions...

Hi Everyone:

Last night, I did some more thinking. I believe I have come up with a
plan, and thought I'd share to get everyone's thoughts. I decided to
change the subject line.
The problem is I don't know what my passion is. I suffer from very
very low self-esteem and lack belief/confidence in myself. As I said
in my previous message, I have no problems doing things for someone
else, but when it comes to myself and what I want to do this is where
I majorly struggle.
My other problem is that because of lack of confidence when I think of
my interests I question myself and convince myself out of it. There is
a difference between just liking something and actually doing it for a
career and being good at it.
Maybe I just don't know what I am really good at.
Okay, here are my interests and potential career plan.
My interests are sports, braille, rehabilitation counseling,
rehabilitation teaching, journalism, reading, writing, and
communications.
Here is what I was thinking.
I really love sports. When I went to WVU before, I was a journalism
major because I thought I wanted to be a sportswriter.
I was thinking I'd finish my journalism degree. I say journalism
because I feel it could teach me a lot of transferable skills that
could help me in other areas and I could learn to become a better
writer. I could also try to better figure out whether I want to
actually be a sportswriter.
My top interests besides sports are rehabilitation counseling,
rehabilitation teaching, and braille. I figured if after I got my
journalism degree, I could get my master's in either rehabilitation
counseling, rehabilitation teaching, or teaching blind students.
I need to probably say I've never had any real experiences teaching,
but I am an excellent braille reader, and with there being such a
shortage with braille teachers I figure I could do something with
that.
The same with rehabilitation teaching. While I have no experience with
teaching, again, I do have skills and figure I could teach them.
I became interested in rehabilitation counseling when I joined the
NFB. I became very passionate about seeing blind people reach their
full potential and getting the training they need.
I also have severe hearing loss in addition to my blindness so I am
also passionate about seeing others who have severe hearing loss in
addition to blindness reach their full potential.
My problem is though, I have no trouble writing or speaking about
these interests but when it comes to doing things/taking action I
struggle and become nervous and lose confidence in myself and then
convince myself I can't do it.
I can talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk I have no
idea and that is where I lose confidence in myself and become
negative.
Does what I wrote above sound like a good plan?
Do others struggle with this whole thing about being afraid and unsure
when it comes to taking action and convincing yourself you can't do
it?
In West Virginia, we do not have a community college. I live in the
same town as West Virginia University, which is the state landgrand
institution.
I am no longer in high school;I graduated in 2006.
Thanks so much for your input and thoughts!
Kerri

_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nabs-l:
http://host.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net