APU Business Careers Careers & Learning

College Degree Choice and Your Career

unconventional-career-adviceBy Sharie Adamson, Ed. D
School of Business at American Public University

Many of us begin our college journey thinking we need to decide what we want to do with the rest of our lives. College is only one piece of the puzzle of our lives and we need to keep that in focus. Preparing for a successful career involves choices well beyond the classroom.

I had the illusion that my college degree choice would set the path for my career for the rest of my life. Therefore, I really stressed about my degree plan. This caused me to change my degree and shift my opinion many times over the course of my first two years in college.

When I settled on the field of teaching, I assumed that I would be a teacher for my entire future career. I was mistaken and, 25 years after I began my career, I look back and wished that I had been more focused on the joy and process of learning instead of focusing on the rest of my life.

When I graduated from college, I began interviewing for multiple teaching positions. I was a newbie and entered the interview field with eyes wide open, yet found that I did not get as many job offers as I wanted in the teaching field. I stressed quite a bit, and I look back now and wish that I had taken the time to make decisions carefully (not take the first interview offered), and that I had focused more on quality and not quantity in all aspects of the job search.

Over the years, I have come to realize that a career choice involves multiple options and not just one single choice. For example, I have taught elementary school, adult education English courses, college and university classes, face-to-face courses, and online courses and the list continues to grow.

The most important lesson I have learned is that careers are flexible and the most vital skill is the courage and motivation to continue to learn. Life is dynamic and ever-changing. Our career skills must adapt and change as well.

[Related: Maximize the Value of Your Degree]

This advice would have saved me hours of contemplation and stress. I hope that my words will help you to find success along your career path.

About the Author: Sharie Adamson is a full-time faculty member with APUS. She began her teaching career as an elementary school teacher and earned her graduate degree in reading instruction. Her doctoral degree is in Education (Curriculum and Instruction). She writes literacy curriculum and enjoys teaching study skill topics for first-time college students. Sharie and her husband have 7 children and live in Texas. She enjoys historical documentaries, spending time with her family, and serving in her church.

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