For some odd reason, many students know exactly what they’d like to study when going to college but they don’t have the foggiest idea exactly what they’d like to do with that degree once they get it! Typically, this happens with an undergrad degree, so if you are nearing the point of graduating and have yet to decide where you want to go with that degree, why not take time to do some serious introspection. Where is your passion? What is it you want to do with that undergrad degree in counseling? Here are some thoughts on how you can figure out exactly where your passion lies and then how to pursue your dreams.
Go for an Advanced Degree
One of the areas in counseling in most demand is high school counselors. If you are interested in working with kids but aren’t exactly into teaching in a classroom setting, why not pursue a masters in school counseling online? With an advanced degree you can work in almost any educational setting from primary grades to colleges and you can even narrow your field of study from there.
If you are passionate about preparing today’s youth for the job market, you could focus on high school or college counseling areas of expertise. On the other hand, if your passion is to work with kids from troubled families, you would focus more on the psychological aspect of counseling. An advanced degree would help you determine just where your passion lies and if it’s a viable option for a career with a future.
Find a Mentor!
Oddly, you are being advised to find a mentor when you, yourself, are studying to be a counselor. In reality, a counselor becomes much like a mentor in that they help their clients realize their potential or resolve issues that are holding them back. An online masters in counseling from a prestigious institution like Bradley University would help you discover ways to find a mentor in your own life – even if through interaction with peers you work with online.
The point is, if you have a passion but are not exactly sure what you can do with a degree in that area, a mentor can help you verbalize what it is you see in your life today and where this will take you tomorrow. A mentor can help you avoid getting discouraged on those days when your path is clouded by doubts. These doubts are what will make you a great counselor because they will help you understand the importance of overcoming real and perceived problems.
Only someone who has suffered insecurity or self-doubt can truly understand what others are experiencing so take this knowledge forward once you’ve identified your passion and are willing to pursue it. In fact, you’ve known it all along so let it out and you will recognize an old friend, an old dream. Your clients will one day benefit from the self-doubts you are suffering today. By overcoming you will be an inspiration to anyone you counsel in the future and that, to any counselor, is something worth working towards.
