It seems like it’s been forever
since I’ve written a post, but you know what they say “time makes the heart
grow fonder.” Okay, no one actually says that, except me, and maybe some other
weird people out there (we can be friends).
Anyway, in
my last post I promised that I would share my tentative future plans with you.
I say tentative because… well I’m a teenage girl (not for long) so my career aspirations can
change in the blink of an eye. I think I can safely say that I’m actually pretty sure about this one though. ***
I have
decided to drop out of Cedarville and go to the Great North to pursue my true
calling of selling ice to Eskimos. (If you have never heard that expression
before, or you don’t know how it applies to me, you have likely never heard me
try to sell you something.)
In all
seriousness though, there is a career path that God has been truly laying on my heart
lately. I’ve been praying for guidance, and I still really feel that it is
where God is guiding me. After finishing up at Cedarville in 2017, I want to
pursue my PhD in Clinical Psychology and then specialize in military trauma treatment.
First off,
let me just say that yes, it will take me a ton of years of schooling to get two
little letters in front of my name (That’s D-r just to specify). What amazes me, is that most people’s first reaction to me saying that I plan to become a Doctor is, “Wow, that’s a lot of school.” Sometimes I try to act surprised, like I had no
clue, so if this has happened to you and you found it offensive, I am sorry that I
can’t always control my sarcasm, but you have to understand how often I hear
that. I would just love for ONE person to say to me “Wow, you must be really determined to follow
your dreams!” or maybe “I bet it will be worth it.” Please, just don’t remind
me of how long it will take. I think that if you love something and feel passionate about it, well, then the extra years of education will only make you love it more.
Second off,
if it seems like a super specific specialization, well that’s true, but it’s
been one that has slowly come together over the past 12 years. I recently found
a paper from 1st grade, and apparently I wanted to do psychology back
then, except I couldn’t (and still can’t) spell that, so I wrote something pretty
close. During my sophomore and junior year, I was really considering enlisting
in the Air Force, but ultimately I felt that God was calling me to get my
education first. (I just wanted to mention that I even trained a ton to be in perfect shape so that I could go to basic before senior year, somehow I have lost the art of the perfect push up since then). This year during the Missions Conference at Cedarville,I finally got direction on how to combine the two. I
realized that God didn’t necessarily need me to be a missionary, He had
something else in the works and that was serving our Service members.
Finally, what does this fancy
specialty even me? Well according to Webster… just kidding, I won’t be cliché
(this time). What I want to do is specialize in how we prevent, treat and
manage the mental effects of war (such as PTSD). I am not sure if I want to do it
with an organization, think Wounded Warrior Project type, or with the Military
directly. I mean I am a little biased to a certain branch, but I will keep it secret so that I don't have to hear all of the ChAIR-Force jokes. Awww shucks I gave it away.
Overall I can't help but be excited to see where my path will lead me, but so far, this is the map I'm following. Obviously there are some variables, like finding a great guy (the search is on), starting a family (I have the names picked), and all of the other crazy stuff life might bring (please let it be a book deal). I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what life brings.
***
Disclaimer: Plans and goals are subject to change and are at the mercy of the
Ultimate Planner. Jeremiah 29:11. Results may vary***
No comments:
Post a Comment