I chose the wrong profession or college! And now?

Hello friends!

Continuing the sequence of texts that deal with the issue of Professional Guidance, an area of ​​psychology that helps in the choice of college, postgraduate studies and career guidance, today we are going to talk about the possibility of changing paths, of finding another orientation. It may be that you or someone you know is afraid to make a decision for fear of making a mistake or has realized that the choice was not adequate and is afraid to admit it. Whatever the case, this text seeks to be a reflection on the subject.

When I talk about a wrong choice, I mean when someone realizes that they don’t want to stay on course. I’m not talking about a particular institution, private or federal, that is not good. What it means is, for example, when a person chooses to go to law school and notices that he has no interest in the laws and the Codes. The mistake in the choice means that another, better choice could be made.

Several studies indicate that many students drop out of the college they chose. The average dropout rate is up to 20%. So imagine: in every 10 students, 2 will not finish the course. If we think about competition in federal entrance exams, in which many students do not pass for very few points, we see that the number is high. Also, for the person who has given up it can be very frustrating.

The word profession comes from the Latin profession, which means to profess. Professing, in turn, means teaching, but it also means saying with conviction and, most importantly, “taking vows, joining a religious order”. I say more important to show that the choice of profession is closely related to the so-called vocation, that is, what we were called to do in this life.

In the past, instead of talking about Professional Guidance, psychologists used to say Vocational Guidance. As there is a strong relationship with religion, we see that the term has been replaced, as speaking of vocation reminds us of the religious vocation, the tendency and choice of someone to enter a certain form of monastic life, such as being a priest, nun, monk, pastor , rabbi, etc.

Even if we remove all religious connotations from the word, it is necessary to keep this thought in mind. You don’t choose a profession like you choose clothes or food. We have to be aware of our potential and, although we can change course, normally the choice will define a period of our existence. Not long ago, when someone chose a trade, it was a sign that they would work in that field their whole lives. Not today, the market is more dynamic, but in any case, when we choose it, we will spend a good few years dedicating ourselves to perfecting ourselves. Therefore, in my opinion, it is necessary to remember what we are called to do, that is, what did you come to this world to do?

This thought also reminds us that we can have other activities as hobbies, such as leisure activities, pleasure, and that they can even be sources of income. However, the profession as work will take a good part of our time and efforts. Much better when the profession fits into what Aristotle called ergon, the task that we know how to do and that will help the city.

For example, if I have the talent to be a psychologist, this is my ergon, the task that I do well and that will be useful to society. It’s no use trying to have another ergon, like being a musician (which would be a personal dream). I’m not gifted in music. Music can be a hobby, a side activity, but it won’t be my ergon.

When someone chooses the wrong profession, a profession that is not for their personality type, this can be a great source of suffering. Imagine doing the same activity, 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, for years! It is no wonder that many are stressed, many are depressed…

I chose the wrong profession or college! And now?

The first step to change, as Rogers warned us, is acceptance. If someone chooses the wrong college or the wrong profession, he has to start by admitting the fact. Many think the following: but I’ve been at this college for two, three years. How can I give up? Or else: I’m employed, I get a good salary, how can I change my job completely?

Well, it all depends on one’s goals. I think that if we want to be happy, we have to find happiness in the professional area as well. However, if the objective is to be recognized by others, if the objective is to earn money, if the objective is to do the family’s will, that’s fine. You can continue in college, you can continue in the profession.

But if the objective is to find yourself, to be happy, to have peace and tranquility, I think that it is necessary to change.

The first step to change is to recognize that the path was not adequate and simply change course. What good is a diploma pinned to the wall? What’s the use of being frustrated or unhappy?

Steve Jobs, the great entrepreneur who created Apple and modified technology, once, when hiring one of his managers, asked him if he wanted to continue selling sugar water or wanted to change the world. (The manager previously worked at a soft drink company). Well, his question is a question about vocation, about mission. What do you want to do? Working in any area or changing the world? Do what you gotta do?

So, in summary:

1) Acknowledge that you are not happy in college or profession

2) If you already graduated and you like college but not the field you are working in, change your field

3) If you are not enjoying any of the areas available in your niche market, change it entirely. In this case, you can continue working for a while (if you need to) and do another college or course. If it is possible to do a graduate or specialization and continue in the area, just change a little, that would be better. But if this is not possible, start over. 4 or 5 years may seem like a long time. But if we think about the last 4 and 5 years, we will see that time flies. It goes by extremely fast and we could have already changed course, maybe, right?

4) If none of these alternatives seem interesting to you, I suggest looking for a psychology professional. The goal will be to evaluate what other options there are, do a complete personality assessment, and see what the best way forward will be.

If you want, you can do – right here on our website – with me, psychologist Felipe de Souza, Online Coaching – College and/or Career Choice

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