Spoiler – I don’t!

What’s been your career path? When you were younger or just leaving school, did you have a clear idea of what you wanted to do? Were you one of those fortunate people who, from early on, knew they wanted to be a doctor, a nurse, an engineer, or a teacher, and spent their school years aiming towards that goal?

For me, it wasn’t quite like that. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on my own experiences, especially as my kids are going through similar decisions. It’s interesting because they’re all quite different.

I think at some stage in the next 10 years I may pivot again 🙃.

My eldest (Emelia Halliday) is working as a paramedic and loves it. She decided on this path around the time of her A-levels I think. Tabby Halliday took a bit more time to figure things out. She took a gap year, and that extra time allowed her to explore her interests. She started a university foundation course, which helped her discover her passion and choose a degree in Environmental Sciences that she really enjoys. That foundation course was a great idea because it helped her find a specific area that truly interested her (side note – I think everyone starting in Uni should do a foundation year, to give them a much broader view of what’s available, before narrowing down).

Now, my son has just finished his A-levels and is facing the same decisions. Many of his friends have gone off to university, and I’ve noticed a trend I’ve seen before – with my own kids and even in my own experience. A lot of them love the university life, but aren’t happy with their courses. They either find the subjects uninteresting or the teaching isn’t what they expected, and it’s a costly experience to not be enjoying what you’re studying.

He’s decided to take a gap year and work, saving up for some exciting travel. He doesn’t yet have a clear direction, but he knows he wants to see more of the world, which is a great goal and will hopefully give him completely new insights into himself and what he might want to do over the next few years.

I did a degree in Zoology and a postgraduate course in Biological Sciences. After that I made a shift into IT, which led me to discover an area I was really passionate about. And that’s where I found my niche – merging technology with healthcare. I’m still passionate about the tech and the product side and founding businesses, but I still find myself asking: what do I want to do when I grow up? 🤣 I think at some stage in the next 10 years I may pivot again 🙃.

So, I’m curious?

– what has your career path been like? Did you know from a young age what you wanted to do, and are you still doing it now? Or have you pivoted and switched directions over the years, finding new passions along the way?