What should I be when I grow up?

Ok... Agreed. It sounds silly, but I don't know the answer. I am fifty years old. I have secretarial training, was once liscensed as a Traditional Dental Assistant, have worked as a teacher's assistant, and have worked as a nurses' aid. I have raised and home schooled seven children, although this year I am taking sabatical as a home schooling mom.

I am presently enrolled in college online studying to become a paralegal. Although this is very interesting to me, I'm not sure I am in the best location geographically (very rural here) to make good use of a degree in that field.

I am curious as all get out. I love to learn. I love to interact with people. I love researching and digging up information. I also like quiet environments, am not overly active, am actually quite shy, and enjoy my freedom.

What would be a good career option for me at this age? I understand that I could volunteer, but I'd like to make some money.

Thanks for all of your original ideas.

You are all so kind to answer (4 so far). This is for Alan especially: (Two of my favorite places!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/k...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v689/k...

It's good that you're stilling continuing to learn at such a age, you would try finding a job as a councilor to guide kids or perhaps try an apprenticeship with a doctor or something which interests you deeply.

Thank you, all. I appreciate your thoughtful answers. I agree, Soaring. I need to figure out which options I find most interesting. My problem may be that I am just interested in too many things! Report It

Some medical and legal transcriptionists work from home. Perhaps that's an option for you.

Only you can decide that. I would start with the Federal Govt. jobs. Go to their website and browse. There are tons of them. They give the requirements for the job as well. Good luck.

First off, Wow!

I think you got the rest of us beat. I'm sitting here trying to crunch numbers under increasingly difficult deadlines with a software package that hiccups quite often. If I can do it over again, I'd go back to photography and perhaps publish a coffee table book on my favorite areas of the country. I really loved those guys who toured the country and used a red couch in all their photos. I thought that was incredible creative and humorous.

My father was a quiet man who worked on farms for most of his childhood. He liked to say that plants don't talk back. When he retired he began cultivating fruit trees. He's gone now but we still have the trees and look forward to orange and tangerine harvest this winter.

I hope whatever you choose always go with what your heart tells you.

Peace, Alan K CPA

Ther is no correct answer. You should choose a profession which you like and enjoy the most. This would help you to maintain stress free healthy life.

I was wondering the same thing myself. That is how I found this question. I am a nurse. Its very rewarding, but I am looking for something else. You could just try everything that peaks your curiosity for -say- three months. Then reevaluate to see which activity you enjoyed the most. Like waitressing? I think I would be good at chatting it up with the customers. While I spent my life raising children and working in a very isolated environment, I felt socially stunted. I switched to a different job out of necessity and was surprised that social skills came back to me. Now other jobs look more interesting to me.