Without sounding too pessimistic, “real life” is right around the corner for you and you need to be prepared for it.. especially financially. It’s very expensive to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, let alone SF itself. I would suggest that you also look for a job, but be open to what your professor finds for you as well. Take the one you like the best. Just kindly let your professor know that you want to see what options are out there for you, but make sure that you do take one of those job options.

In terms of what direction to take with your life, I think it might be best right now to stick with your field of study. It’s probably your best bet right now in terms of earning power. All those other things, you can still do.. as a hobby for now. Take a class, dabble on the weekends, etc… anything where you can try it out. At the same time, you can also take your time and explore other job options RELATED to your field, but not necessarily directly in the field.

I hate to paint this picture that the “real world” is all about money, but it’s an unfortunate way of life. Having a decent to good paying job allows you to do many other things. I know that when I finished school, I kinda just goofed around for a few years and now I’m paying for it. I finally have a decently paying job and have been digging my way out of my hole (which includes my student loans) and thankfully, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Good luck with all of your endeavors. If you don’t mind, please keep me updated on what you decide to do. I’d like to know which direction you decided on. Please email me if you have any more questions.

A masters degree, a decent career and you even consider it an important thing to society…that means a lot!

I know a lot of girls who have done to SF in order to seek a new life. I think its a wonderful city, but its really a giant party scene. If thats what your into….go for it. I personally would let the professor hook me up with a job, see how it is (see if you enjoy it?) It might be exactly what you want…it might not. but you’ll gain experience either way (and it might enlighten you to what you really wanna do)

Step 1, Try this: Pretend you won the world’s biggest lottery and would never ever have to work or worry about money forever. If that were true, ask yourself what you would do to keep from becoming bored each day. (write the list on a sheet of paper…but make 3 columns, and make your list in the left column. Then fold up the paper and put it away for a few days.

A few days later, take out the list and look at each item carefully. For each thing you like to do, try to figure out A) what is so intellectually/mentally exciting about it for you? (and put those things in the center column)….and then B) what physical activity is associated with the things you like to do (and list those things in the right column).

When you are done, you have an inventory of the things you like to do, and why you like to do them (knowledge and skills). No the grand prize is to figure out what job exists in the world that deals with your areas of interest that requires the knowledge and skills you either have or are interested in….so in essence, you want to find a job that pays you do to do what you would normally want to do anyway.

A few weeks ago, I was hiking in Yellowstone National Park with a good friend and her children. She said “now I know why you like to teach geography so much!” My reply…”and the best part of it all….they thought I was working and they paid me to do it!!! (hahahahaha)”

But since you have a major and are on the verge of a job….try this as a Step 2: make use of the SCANS list from the US Dept of Labor (you can use this link to get a copy of the lists http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/public/clubextra.html?nclubid=893282700&nid=268367529

There are a number of ways to use these lists. Start with a self-inventory. Then use it to inventory a job description for any job you might be interested in. The closer the match, the higher the probability of success and enjoyment in that job. You can also use the lists to inventory what you learned from any classes you take….and to see if the classes are giving you the knowledge and skills needed for the job you want.

Research various jobs: use something like www.salary.com to learn about the “career path” for any job you are interested in…and find out salaries around the country, benefits, etc.

The goal for you might be to find a closely related job using your present education and skills but applied to a job more suited to your “dream/wish list” from the lottery exercise above.

Life is often too short. No sense spending it in misery. Remember, no one ever got out of life alive. And if you can be lucky enough to get paid to do what you enjoy, I think your will definitely enjoy life much more.

Hope this helps. Good luck with your life. Best wishes.