Professional pre-occupation
I am a 25-year-old recent Arts/Law graduate from Australia with many unanswered questions about my career. I know that I don’t want to be a practicing lawyer. I know that I want to have a job that suits my introverted personality. And I know that I want to make a positive impact. What I don’t know is what path I should to take to get there, what social justice issues I should focus on, and what skills and knowledge I need to gain to help me along the way.
This year I am fortunate enough to have a lot of free time to think deeply about these questions. I am currently having a long break after finishing up six years of study at the end of last year. Hopefully I’ll be spending most of 2022 in the US with my partner Michael who recently started a statistics PhD at Stanford. As I don’t currently have a visa that allows me to work in the US, it’s a good opportunity to rejuvenate, read, write, learn, volunteer, and think. Hopefully I’ll find some of the answers I’m looking for, or at the very least, gain some skills along the way.
At the moment I am drawn to policy work and law reform, but also want to consider other options like activism, advocacy, and journalism. This blog is a way for me to explore my options, document what I learn and discover, as well as a test case to see whether writing and journalism could be a good fit for me. It is also an opportunity to build more confidence in sharing my thoughts, ideas, and work with others — something that has been difficult for me in the past.
After talking to some friends recently, I realised that the uncertainty surrounding my career is not uncommon. Even some friends doing their PhDs don’t know if they’re in the right field or where they’ll end up. It’s a hard question to answer — What should I spend my working life doing? I take comfort in the fact that I am not locked in to any one career path — I will likely have many jobs in my lifetime, and I can always switch into an entirely new discipline if I choose to. I don’t have to get it right straight away (and neither do you)!
Some other facts about me: I like climbing (especially bouldering), I recently got back into running, I like cooking (my partner and I made a carrot, apple and beetroot spice cake last week!), I’m trying to improve my Spanish speaking skills, I meditate, I enjoy gardening and watching plants come to life, I like reading, I like crosswords, I like hiking, I love swimming in the ocean, I miss my friends and family back in Australia, I’m a homebody, I’m an introvert, and I love to learn.
Through writing this blog I hope to explore (and maybe answer) some of the questions I have about my own career. If what I write speaks to or resonates with you that would be an added bonus. Maybe together we can find camaraderie in our search for a meaningful and fulfilling career.
