Some Possible Career Choices (Can't decide ARGH)

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barbedlotus
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28 Aug 2009, 8:30 pm

There are three main career paths that I have wanted to take most of my life, but can never decide for a few reasons. The main being will me being an aspie totally mess these options up. Currently I work a desk job where I don't have to talk to anyone more than maybe once a week, I can have my headphone on and block everything else out, excel at, good benefits, ok pay, etc... Only two downsides, not a very stable work schedule (it's season and I'm never really sure how long I will be working each year so can't save accordingly when I am working) and it is the type of job I dreaded doing my entire life. I hate it and stay with it only because of the insurance really. What I always wanted to do was become a teacher (history, english, art, theater, whatever - probably high school or college level though), an art therapist or start my own after school school (mostly extra curicular based since these areas are being completely cut here locally, even most sports, but also real life training, tutoring, etc... it's kind of complicated the whole plain so I won't go into it unless someone asks. It's one of those things I can go on for hours about). All three of my want to's though involve a lot of interaction and socializing. Which I completely suck at. I lose words all the time, talk to quiet, talk to loud, come off as rude... I don't see how I could be effective as a teacher or a therapist when I seem to drive people away so much.

Anyone successfully gotten into these careers despite the whole socializing issue?



AngelRho
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28 Aug 2009, 9:46 pm

If you're asking if I've SUCCESSFULLY gotten into a career like that... Well, that's still up for debate!

My big dream is to make a living composing music. Don't care how or what--I could write a symphony, a film score, or co-write songs with a band, and anything else from one end to the other. Music is what I do.

But how to make the big bucks? That's what's gotten me in so much trouble over the years. After I finished my master's degree in composition, I took a job as a middle school music teacher. That was a disaster! My second job was middle/high school general music and instrumental music. Not only was the discipline better, but I was starting to understand kids who grew up radically different from me. At first I had a lot of support, but my first-year principal got shipped off to Afghanistan and the next guy didn't really care to try to understand my situation. I don't feel so bad leaving that school since apparently that system had a pattern of running off the BD's. The new guy after me lasted one year, and now that band program is basically finished.

I got picked up by a private school after that. The problems I was faced with there had to do with it being the polar opposite of the schools I'd previously served (wealthy parents vs. minorities). I didn't fit in with the mostly impoverished families, nor did I fit in with the snobby rich kids. Ultimately I was blamed for not increasing participation in a school with drastically falling enrollment. Simple mathematics, people!

What I ended up doing was starting my own private piano teaching studio. The advantage is that I deal one-on-one with students instead of wasting time maintaining discipline in a classroom (which is mostly what classroom instruction is all about, anyway, NOT the subject matter!). A typical trait of AS is that it's easier to relate to people much younger because they naturally tend to respect older people. This has at least been my personal experience. My reputation got around and I was asked to teach after-hours non-credit piano on a local college campus to include adults as well as children. I'm still an active performer and composer. This particular lifestyle helps me avoid a lot of uncomfortable social situations though I do make the effort. I still try to network and meet famous people from time to time so I can still maybe get that dream gig. And I do play in a couple of local bands--which performing live has never been a problem because I don't have to be that aspie guy! I can be whoever I want or feel like being. The exposure is the reward for all the hard work I do in isolation.

As far as what this has to do with you: You might find working one-on-one with tutoring, art therapy, or your other interests to be what you succeed at best. I reserve the right to go back to band directing if or when I feel ready. But the solitude of my present occupation has really seemed to help me grow more than having to put myself on the front lines like I did when I first started working.

Oh, I almost forgot: One of my first jobs right out of high school was as engineer for a small radio station. I was able to do a lot of things from reading ads, public service announcements, to the weather. And at one point I was recording my own background images for those. I also worked behind the desk for sports events, religious programming, or whatever the owner needed me to do. No one had to see me, hear me (except on recordings, see above), or even know I was there just as long as I made things happen. It would have been a lovely alternative career if I'd chosen that path!



zee
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03 Sep 2009, 8:14 pm

Focus on your strengths and passion rather than the socializing aspect. If you really want to do something, then you will find a way. But it sounds like you're not 100% sure what you want. Maybe try a career test or something. The myers-brigg test lists suggested careers for their 16 different personality types.



Ladarzak
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24 Sep 2009, 8:04 pm

barbedlotus wrote:
All three of my want to's though involve a lot of interaction and socializing. Which I completely suck at. I lose words all the time, talk to quiet, talk to loud, come off as rude... I don't see how I could be effective as a teacher or a therapist when I seem to drive people away so much.

Anyone successfully gotten into these careers despite the whole socializing issue?


Yes.
I am useless at socializing. I totally have to fake it. However, teaching is not socializing. It's a profession. You say what is needed. You can also say, "Let me think" or just "Hmmm" while you figure out what to do. I did it for 8 years. I am very good at explaining things 10 different ways and I know my subject area, so I was considered excellent. It just didn't satisfy me. If you think it would satisfy you, why not try some volunteering, or offer to be a helper in some teacher's class, doing whatever they need you to do. Activity in the classroom is all about the students and the subject, not the teacher, in my opinion, so really there is not much pressure once you know what you are doing, ie facilitating their learning. There are all kinds of teacher tricks for getting students' attention, be it elementary, high school, or college. Study how to teach and you will learn this. If you really want to, I expect you can do it. In every field people like it when you are passionate about what you do.