I am still going to school, trying to decide what to major in specifically, but I've come to the conclusion I want to find a job that benefits children that are/should be in the Gifted and Talented Education program. This is something I care about because I was one of them. Children on the right side of the bell curve need help just as any form of special education needs people that care, either with emotional problems or getting them into the right place educationally to challenge them and help them reach their potential. I'll be honest, I don't feel like I ever reached my potential in the public school system, and wish someone had been there to push me. Particularly once I hit the middle-school level and there were zero programs in place here so I went from GATE level education in 1st-6th grade, to being thrown in with the general population where I was not challenged, got bored really quickly, and learned to hate school. By the time I got to High School it didn't matter that the Honors and AP classes existed, I simply didn't care at the time and eventually tested out of high school and never really figured out what I wanted to do with my life. I've changed a lot in the past 11 years and finally realize how important education is. You know what they say about hindsight and all that, and I can't change my wasted years but I would like to help others not fall into the same hole.
Outside of teaching(Which I am not ruling out, just trying to explore all my options), what other job possibilities are there to help these students? Currently I am looking towards majoring in Psychology, I should be able to get my Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Studies next year but need to figure out what transfer requirements I will need to take as well for whatever 4-year degree program I choose to go for, which depending on what kind of job I want to pursue may change.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
04 Oct 2012, 2:42 pm
