Question: I’m a 23-year-old somewhat recent graduate (2009) from U.C. Berkeley, majored in Cognitive Science. I have spent the last two years working in various jobs, but I wouldn’t say I have started a career yet. The longest I have had a job was for eight months, immediately after I graduated. This position was a food service position at a fairly famous Oakland restaurant called ‘Bakesale Betty’. Since leaving ‘BSB’, I have backpacked through Central and South America for three months, worked in a high tech manufacturing facility for two months, obtained an EMT certification, and worked as an EMT for two months.
I explain my lack of career focus partially in not knowing entirely what I want to do, and partially in a reluctance to committing, or even thinking too hard about a career. In essence, I felt personally underdeveloped, and that a full-time career would stifle opportunities for that expansion. Over the last couple years, I have seen and experienced many things I had been curious about, and have matured. I feel a strong urge, now, to focus and leverage my abilities toward building something meaningful and lasting, and developing a career. I want to contribute to something important and be acknowledged for it, as an adult. ... read more