What exactly is the Job of a Lifetime?

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Let’s talk jobs.

I came across this interesting article, a great read actually: What No One Understands About Your Job

It shows our job titles, and what we do are not always the “same” thing in one particular role. Even what others deem our jobs to be from their perspective is not exactly the case.

Reading this article had me pondering on my own choices. When I was 17, I was sure I was going to get my bachelor’s and master’s in Psychology then while at University of Central Florida I would work at Disney World as a Princess character and spend my off time with friends and using my Universal Orlando Annual Pass. That became going to Florida State University when I was 18 with the mindset of being an Anesthesiologist. I told myself I was going to join a sorority, at least 10 clubs, and campaign for Homecoming Princess. Life had darker plans for me. In these years I worked as a Starbucks Barista, Victoria’s Secret/PINK associate, Resident Assistant and Camp Counselor. Taking Junior and Senior level courses while barely a freshman burned me out quickly and hard. I saw “Law” as the better opportunity to “Medical” I could truly be passionate about. (Hey, I have Skullivan now and I adore him and his 26 bones) Life strikes again my study year to LSAT prep for Law School became leaving home and moving to a new state, surviving a global pandemic, and working a full time job with secret clearance. Immediately after graduating I was involved with higher education, I had considered staying, but I would have wanted to be a guidance counselor/ advisor based on my own bad experiences.

I feel I know more of myself over the last 3 years than I ever did as a 17-19 year old. I have a sense of my “aesthetic” preference, what I would like to do with my life, what long term goals would be nice, and what legacy I would leave. It’s only convenient in everything I want to do, other people have to like me first. Which doesn’t scare me as much as it would’ve 5 years ago. My only stress is my health/weight loss/fitness journey. I told myself these last 3 months of 2022 are to set me up for my rebound year of 2023 and the start of the life I want in 2024. It’s hard or me to answer what the job of a lifetime for me will be. Two jobs I have always admired are quite literally up to chance and only last a year. The career I have always wanted and find my way back to in sneaky ways (hint: acting) is also based on the systems that be and their own hierarchal stigmas. I haven’t written law out actually. But being an attorney or a lawyer doesn’t excite me anymore. Neither does being a judge. Having a J.D. would allow me to do more in advocacy work I would like to fulfill in the voices and rights of entertainment. I envision the successes of my business plans and the noon-profit I started and how much they can grow in years to come.

No one “sees” any of this when I say I want to compete in the systems I admire, having Ivy League Law Schools and Theater Schools on my lists, or when I speak on why I have late nights and constant mood periods where the weight of feeling I need to do more hits me and leaves me in bed in frozen dread. If I did the same format as the article for the roles I held and may hold in the future it would be:

Lingerie and Active Wear Associate:

You quickly see the impacts of the patriarchy and misogyny on women of all ages… as early as 12, and that changes you.

Coffee Barista:

Quickly it was more than coffee, I was clocking in at 3:50am for a day of counseling sessions.

Resident Assistant:

A lot of moments when you grasp the care and responsibility of other lives are in your hands. It’s heavy.

Camp Counselor:

You see the behaviors and mannerisms developing in small children, fascinating and frightening.

University Advisor:

I find myself grieving for the students and families as they bury themselves to build themselves.

Federal Specialist:

I want to do more, but I can’t and it angers me.

Local, State, National Public Figure:

This is so stressful then it comes off to be. You must train hard for this. Not just to win but to survive your title.

Entrepreneur:

90% will they buy it and 10% what am I willing to put into this.

Philanthropist:

I find myself campaigning hard to help people to people who want to help people to help said people.

Entertainment and IP Law Advocate:

Chasing your dreams shouldn’t hurt you. I see the same story on a thousand faces.

Television, Film, Theater Performer:

Everyone wants you to peak but when you love what you do you wake up ready for the next opportunity… not the end of your career.

Public Servant:

It’s not a hard job if you’re willing to spend most of your time in Washington D.C. away from family while everyone berates and belittles your work while you try to best serve all of your constituents.

Homemaker:

Not what I ever wanted but also thankful for the opportunity to have this moment.

Rancher:

This look idyllic but the grit it takes is not for those who are afraid of some curd.

So, we wait. We look to see if the jobs we desire take us or pass us by. I hope for my sake my jobs of a lifetime are for me. As I hope yours are for you.

All thoughts in this article do not reflect the views or beliefs of any organizations mentioned. All thoughts and beliefs are solely my own.