Zelig Redux

October 30, 2007 11:41 AM

Reinventing myself once again at age 59, ideas please?

I'd read somewhere that a human being should have seven careers of seven years each. I'm transitioning from my fifth to my sixth and it's been neither clear nor smooth.

To date I've been a medical/human services grunt, graduate student, therapist, entrepreneur/corporate trainer, and a rear echelon support officer in the Global War on Terror. The last one is rapidly losing its charm and it's clear it is time to move on to somewhere, but my internal brainstorming on where, has been relatively non-productive. Also, my networks have been diminished in the last few years, and will need to be renewed

I've narrowed it down to four requirements in my new iteration, and they are: passion for what I do, ability to provide real service, a moderate income, and independence but not isolation.

I have a 13 year old still at home, so I'll need a co-income for at least the next 5 years. I also have a modest retirement nest egg which I don't want to touch.

I need ideas, networking possibilities, and resources. Send help Hive Mind. Thanx.

posted by Xurando to work & money (6 comments total)

Sounds like teaching would be a good fit. You have oodles of diverse experience. And summers off with your kid for the next 5 years might be a good thing eh?
posted by ian1977 at 11:47 AM on October 30, 2007

P.S. the age thing isn't an issue for me. I would describe myself as a high energy, eclectic, technically fluent, visionary.
posted by Xurando at 12:00 PM on October 30, 2007

There are resources and experts available, some even free. My local community college has a free aptitude test and a free career counseling session for anybody that can get to the office. The day I went the wait was ten minutes, and the information was excellent, as in none of it was rendered invalid by a subsequent visit to the Johnson O'Connor foundation for a two-day, 500 $ routine that had to be scheduled several weeks ahead of time.
posted by bukvich at 12:46 PM on October 30, 2007

Yes like the first poster said, teaching. There are many Alternative Certification programs out there so it is possible you could get certified in a short amount of time. In my state every community college offers a certification program leading to full professional certification in less than one year and the programs are tailored for working adults. Go to the Department of Education website for your state and see what the requirements are to get certified. Also consider signing up to be a substitute with the local school districts so you know what you are in for before you make the leap. There are national critical shortages for ESE (special ed), math, science, and reading, although in my state reading is not something you can get certified in but you can get an endorsement to an existing teaching credential.

You would be on the same schedule as your child, and the benefits aren't bad and in my county first year teachers are making $39,300.
posted by 45moore45 at 2:47 PM on October 30, 2007

Turn it around and find the thing you are passionate about first, then figure out how to capitalize on it.

Stream of consciousness writing is one way to remember some of those long-lost passions. Or meditation. Or interpreting your dreams. Or just thinking back to when times were simpler and you knew exactly what you wanted.
posted by trinity8-director at 2:57 PM on October 30, 2007

As a former therapist, I am certain that you have developed some insight into yourself and your wishes for the future.

Have you done any traveling? Seems like that's one of the only things you left out. Maybe you could learn a foreign language and get your certification in English for Speakers for Other Languages (ESOL).

You also might consider doing work with a non-profit agency doing something like grantwriting or fundraising.

Good luck!
posted by mynameismandab at 7:37 PM on October 30, 2007