Mom, School, Work, and more School...

I am a single mom, and I work more than full time as a 911 dispatcher. I've started school part time, one class at a time last year. My major at the local community college is general studies because I keep switching what I want to do "when I grow up" lol. Originally, years ago, I've always wanted to be a cop. But, now being in that field and having first hand experience, I don't want to do this forever. I've gone between being a vet (which will take me until I'm 50 to get my degree), being a science teacher (which is more realistic, however the pay isn't as good as what I make now), and then just miscellaneous things like air traffic control (similar to what I do now already, but with planes lol).

Animals are my passion, they always have been. I really want to do something with animals, preferably exotics. Being a vet is just not realistic to me because of the amount of school it requires and between being a single mom and working it's just not possible it seems. I've thought about environmental police, fisheries and wildlife, etc. Anyone have any recommendations for reptile/exotic related jobs? Zoology seems like fun but there is one small zoo nearby, and moving across the country isn't in my plan. This may seem like a very open ended question, but any ideas would be awesome, and possibly include the degrees that are required? I plan on either being here in MA or moving to FL eventually so any area related jobs would be awesome too :)

Hi LGray23.

I have one advice. For one who is undecided on "what I want to do when I grow up" it is very advantageous to take an aptitude test. This is a test that will give you an idea on what your strengths are so that you can get an idea of what you're going to be really good at.

For example - a person who is thinking to become a detective might find that they are weak in logical analysis and wouldn't be an effective detective, know what I mean? If you really have a passion for detective work and you are weak on logical analysis, you wouldn't find it tedious to take all the effort necessary to master logical analysis. But, if you're not that passionate about it, all the extra effort to gain that skill will just be nothing but frustrating.

Anyway, taking that test might give you an idea on what would be something you can easily get good at and make the choices from there.

All guidance offices in high schools or colleges offer this test, so you can ask your guidance counsellor if he can give you one.

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I am a single mom, and I work more than full time as a 911 dispatcher. I've started school part time, one class at a time last year. My major at the local community college is general studies because I keep switching what I want to do "when I grow up" lol. Originally, years ago, I've always wanted to be a cop. But, now being in that field and having first hand experience, I don't want to do this forever. I've gone between being a vet (which will take me until I'm 50 to get my degree), being a science teacher (which is more realistic, however the pay isn't as good as what I make now), and then just miscellaneous things like air traffic control (similar to what I do now already, but with planes lol).

Animals are my passion, they always have been. I really want to do something with animals, preferably exotics. Being a vet is just not realistic to me because of the amount of school it requires and between being a single mom and working it's just not possible it seems. I've thought about environmental police, fisheries and wildlife, etc. Anyone have any recommendations for reptile/exotic related jobs? Zoology seems like fun but there is one small zoo nearby, and moving across the country isn't in my plan. This may seem like a very open ended question, but any ideas would be awesome, and possibly include the degrees that are required? I plan on either being here in MA or moving to FL eventually so any area related jobs would be awesome too :)

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You could be a vet assistant with only an AS degree. At least here you can.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

You could be a vet assistant with only an AS degree. At least here you can.

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Sad to say, I've looked into it and they don't start off making a whole lot, and not anywhere near what I make now. I can't take much of a pay cut being a single mom....

I'm getting my masters in Herpetology so that I can work for the fish and wildlife service in Texas....I want to be a conservation officer but I don't know if I can with having a slight criminal background.

Hey LGray! I agree that a career aptitude test could help. I took one and discovered that I loved all of the options it gave me! Then I researched them more to figure out what was best suited for me.

Game Warden? Don't know what it pays but it sounds like it's right up your alley.