What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you make it, or did you end up somewhere else? And which would have made you happier?
Career choices are important for all young people, and some not so young ones as well. For ADD Students, it’s especially important because they usually need to take more than just their interests into consideration.
I can remember my senior year of high school. I spent most of it in a panic because I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I ended up starting college with a liberal arts focus, just so I could begin school.
When my son Andy was in high school, he had a chance to explore career opportunities through his high school. He was especially drawn to being a stockbroker because of all of the fast paced trading he saw on the floor. A little bit of risk taking, lots of action and adrenaline pumping – that was for him.
That is, until he had a chance to see what a stockbroker really does and realized that much of his time would be spent at a desk, either in front of a computer or on the phone. Definitely not for him. He was lucky to be able to find that out ahead of time.
Now he’s majoring in marketing – it’s creative and competitive and not so tied to a desk. A much better fit for him.
While what you’re interested in makes a significant contribution to career choices, you also have to consider talents, and in the case of ADD Students, their ADHD symptoms and how they will affect a career choice.
Although I’m sure some exist, I just can’t see many ADDers I know being a librarian. Could we be quiet that long?
You know, although my husband sort of fell into his career in the auto industry, I wouldn’t have thought that he would be so good at what he does. His job requires precise attention to detail, working in such small measurements and degrees of error that it would drive me crazy. I couldn’t see someone with ADHD being willing or able to do it, and yet he has for 30 years.
I think that most high schools have some sort of career planning resources available to their students and of course you’ve always got the internet to search. Just make sure that as you narrow down your ADD Student’s career choices that you take their ADD symptoms into account.