Future Careers for Gifted and Talented Teens

We gifted and talented teens have too much stress in our lives. We are expected to be top notch in everything we do. It is not surprising, then, that when we are asked that notorious question, “What are you going to become?”, we are expected to answer with something great. Can you imagine how stunned someone would look if we said, “I just wanna flip burgers all my life in that little grill down on the corner”? No, we have to say something intelligent, like teacher, doctor, lawyer or entrepreneur. Really, most teens in our position say one of these things. They just don’t know or understand the other possibilities. Asking all of my friends, I have discovered that we have all wanted to be doctors at some point in our lives.

What is it that takes our initial childhood dream jobs away? Reality. Many gifted and talented teens find that they have a weakness in the key area they need to become what they want to be. For example, an artistic teen might be terrible at math and be unable to become a doctor. Other students just grow out of their dreams. I wanted to be a veterinarian for years. I was bitten by a rabid cat and I quickly changed my mind as I endured 10 long painful needles. I had also been a volunteer at the veterinary office and didn’t find the magic I had believed there to be in animal hospitals.

I have to tell you what you’ve probably already heard. Money isn’t everything. You have the brains to achieve greatness and the salary that goes with it, but if you aren’t happy, what is the point? Life is about enjoyment, and since you only live once, pick a career that you love. So few people can say that they love their jobs. It is a national tragedy. Don’t go into something for fear of how you look to others, don’t go into something because your parents want you to. Every parent wants their child to become a brain surgeon, but few do. As well, demanding jobs that take up all your time and energy will lead to sacrifices in other important aspects of life. I know many stockbrokers who work from 7 am to 12 pm and who have lost their marriages. Family is one of life’s most precious components, and you really have to make sure you keep it as part of your life. Don’t pick a job that takes too much of your time, or you are apt to end up

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