By Lydia A. Gober
Director, Career Services & Co-op

• What do you really do best?
• What do you enjoy doing the most that you could not live without doing?
• What do you do most easily?
• What is most interesting to you?

These questions could be asked to help us explore and find answers to the ever present question facing college students and many others. We could also ask ourselves -- What career would make me feel passionate about working? What is success; what is a career? What would “passionate” look and feel like? And is career success really about the money?

In a book called "Roadtrip Nation: A Guide to Discovering Your Path in Life" by Mike Marriner and Nathan Gebhard with Joanne Gordon, discuss their adventures in career exploration just before their senior year at Pepperdine University in California. They decided to go on a roadtrip around the country to interview people in all types of careers. These students were desperately trying to answer their parents’ and peers’ continuous query “What are you going to do with the rest of your life?”

These career travelers called this, “the noise.” In reflecting on their interviews, they wrote this book and they give us some sign posts for our own adventure in discovering what we might love to do for our life’s work.

Here are a few conclusions:

It is always good to plan your career path, and then be flexible and open.

Remember that along the road to your career, you may take side roads which could take you back to the intersection or lead you further on in a different direction.

It is acceptable to not know what will be your life’s work/career, even while in college.

Follow an academic path that will help you move forward, but continue to consider your options.

Remember, it may take several years, several attempts to identify your ideal work.

Look for a career that allows you to balance home, work, social life, etc.

Ask yourself if it is truly about the money. If it is, you may not be on the road to the best career for you. Would you like to pursue further roadtrips to discover a highway to the work you could love?

Watch for more about career paths, road signs and roadtrips in March. Especially keep on the lookout for “Roadtrip Interviews” during Career Week 2006: Travels in Careering, April 3-7. For help with career exploration and planning, contact your Career Center on each main campus, PRC: F109, SCC G103, CPC A108.