Career thoughts
Since I was in little, sixth grade to be precise, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. Although I wavered with that in high school, jumping from maybe wanting to be a journalist to a few other things, I've pretty much been set in that area: now I would actually say I'm more interested in being a judge than being a lawyer, but they both follow the same track, so it doesn't really matter.
Having this all figured out has been very advantageous to me, as I knew exactly what I wanted to do, where I wanted to go, and what I had to complete in order to go for that path.
Of course, though, I need to start thinking about this again, because for some reason I've decided that maybe there are other things I would rather do even more. I love law, and politics, and honestly, being a lawyer I think would be excellent for me; I love debating, I adore public speaking, and I have such a fascination for what trial lawyers are able to accomplish. And then, the possibility of being a justice or a judge just...I love the idea of being able to do something like that.
However. There have been more and more times recently where I have debated going back to my hometown, and possibly running for public office in the state legislature. Not that I'm arrogant enough to think I would get elected or even win a primary (especially since I would have to actually register with a party), but that arises more out of...absolute frustration with my state's government, which, honestly, has the worst reputation out of any state government in the United States. I just like the idea that maybe I'd be able to get in there and (it'd be even better if I were a senator, since I could easily exploit the individualism rather than in the Assembly) do something about all the garbage that goes down in there. I know that's a very very optimistic dream, but I'd like to hope that I was raised well enough to not allow corruption to grab my legs and pull me down with the rest of the politicians who sit in those chambers.
Actually, Kevin and I have joked that one day I would be Governor. That is something I don't really ever see happening, but...I won't lie and say I don't like the sound of it.
Maybe it's because I've studied politics that I'm all of a sudden more inclined to go down that path rather than the lawyer path. I mean I could combine those kinda, and be a lobbyist, but...meh, that's not really what I wanted to do.
And then, a third option which I've just opened myself up to: Professor. Between me constantly thinking of how fun that could be, and my mother (who does support me in anything I choose to do anyway lol) continually telling me how well I would be able to do that job...that has skyrocketed in my list of possible career paths. I've never really thought about teaching in general, saying that it wasn't really my thing, but I always made the exception for the college level. It's actually something I would like to do, to just focus on what field I want, become an expert in it, and then teach it to people with the same type of passion as me. Of course, with this I think I would pursue the politics course rather than the math course; while I do love math, it falls a step behind politics, and even a little behind history. I would be doing a double major probably in history and politics rather than math and politics if I didn't think I would get more from the math in the long run.
And now I'm just at a standstill: most likely I will try and go to law school no matter what, which would only help me with any of these choices - lawyer for...obvious reasons, politician for having that field of expertise, and the professor to open myself to being able to teach undergrad law courses.
I think I'll try and talk to my uncle: he teaches Theocracy over at...I think either the University of Chicago, or some college in Chicago. Want to see what I would have to do to go down the professor path, and see how much he likes it.
It's just weird seriously considering all these different professions when I've always been so secure in that area for such a long time. And these aren't just wavers like in the past. They're not "oh if I can't be a lawyer then I'd like to do this." No, these are concrete "I might want to do that more."
...Also my roomie slept through her class and I feel a little bad about not waking her up. >_>