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My whole life I've been told and thought I'm stupid. Because I'm not school-book smart. I don't get good grades in the "smart subjects" like science, math and so on. I am so sick of believing this. I'm a different type of smart. I know I can make something of myself.
I am especially good at 3 things; public speaking & reaching out to people, languages (I know 4 different languages and intend on learning several more) and I sympathize, more than anything. People always turn to me because of that, I long to help. More than anything.
I've researched at least a hundred different professions in my attempt to find a major that will equip me with the right tools to help save the innocent from the corrupt and ultimatley change the world. I need a profession that will make me come alive. I have a picture of myself speaking infront of thousands of people, touching their hearts, or working at a homless shelter, somehow helping those who have been used, or anything of that kind. But in BIG levels, it wouldn't mean anything to me as a doctor or anything like that. It's not the kind of thing that would make me come alive, it wouldn't matter to me. I don't want to help one person at a time, I want to help thousands.. at once. I want to do something that would end homelessness and stimulate world peace!
I am compassionate and am able to provide stability in people's lives when they are shaken up. I am 16 years old, female, and more than anything.. I want to do something with my life.
No one believes in me, because I am not suited for the typical "good jobs" I will never have the grades to become a Lawyer, Doctor, Journalist or any of the sort.
Help me, what can I become? And how do I get there?
Thank you so much! And please, don't read this and think "what a dreamer, everyone thinks they'll save the world.. this one doesn't even have good enough grades.. she doesn't even know how to spell" Please, I have enough people thinking that way, if you can't help me, fine. But I'm begging you, don't think like that.
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Let me start off saying I am in awe that you feel this way.
Forget the people who say no one can change the world by themselfs. Martin Luther King JR. changed the world by his powerful speeches and his power of will. You, sweetheart, can be that, as long as you forget the people that say you can't, and remember the people who say you WILL. This is not a matter of maybe, or even probably. This is a matter of you will accomplish great things.
I only can hope for people that think the way you do. If we had people that thought like this, my, we would be in a world without international problems. People need the help from others that can think of great ideas. Book smart people don't impact the world as greatly as people like you.
Now, on to the advice, eh? Well, start off in working in homless shelters. Organize a speech in your school. I bet, right now, if this got recognised, and got past on to news stations, you would have already touched so many hearts.
You already HAVE touched so many hearts.
Just count this as one.
:]
Hope I Helped!!
p.s. Thank you.
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You have had awesome responses already, so I will be brief. There is never one answer to any one question. You have seen that from all the answers and opinions here, but down the road from now if you remember nothing else, remember that. Often we stress out over finding the one perfect person, job or thing that will give meaning to our life. We never find the one, and we pass up the many looking for the one. Why? We think it will be easier to get all the love, money, satisfaction or sense of worth from just one source, but it is not...it is much harder. I am guessing that you are very goal-oriented and focused, much more than those your age typically are. This is going to be crucial in helping you achieve your dreams, as long as your focus does not stay too narrow. We all experience losses and dissapointments in life, so having several options open to you will keep you going positive when the inevitable happens and directions and plans have to change. You have a bright future and I am pleased to know that you will be a giver in life...it truly is more blessed to be someone who heals, loves and gives to others.
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be a missionary!!!
you'd be perfect.
hope i helped.
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Oh Wow!!!! I want to do like almost the same thing as you!!! Work in an orphanage/homeless shelter!! And I'm a 16 year old female too!!! Cool!! Cool!! Cool!! :D
Well, whether you're "book smart" or not doesn't really matter! You can still do wonderful things! And like you, I'm a little confused as to what sort of "career" to have.
But really, Just do it! Do what you love! Go work at a homeless shelter! Go speak your heart out about what you believe they should know in public! Reach out to people!
Though now you're still young I guess so maybe just learn more languages, and do the things you can for now.
But I believe that the God will give you EVERYTHING you need to do His will! So don't worry to much!
"I am especially good at 3 things; public speaking & reaching out to people, languages (I know 4 different languages and intend on learning several more) and I sympathize, more than anything. People always turn to me because of that, I long to help. More than anything."
Thats like exactly how I feel except I don't know about public speaking, though I've never tried it.. hehe! Who knows! I could be very good at it! :P And then I've been trying to learn some languages and have learned a little french, but I have 8 sibling(6 younger then me!), so sometimes it's little hard to find the time! But I still try! And have learned a little! I think you're farther ahead then me on this! hehe!
Don't give up and you should do wonderfully!
Abigail
p.s. Hey could you add me as a friend?! I tried adding you but couldn't find out how? Anyways, Thanks!
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I wish that I could write a lot more, but unfortunately I have to start making rounds soon, so I won't be able to write as much.
I think your passion is there, and it will just take some time before you find what you are passionate about. I will tell you that when I was in high school, no one believed that I would do anything with my life. I wasn't a mediocre student, but I wasn't one of the top in my class. I just did well "enough". Unfortunately, high school is not meant to stimulate your own pursuits, but rather make you take classes that you are not interested in and passionate about, but I do assure you that when you get into college (and you will get into college) you will finally be able to study things that really interest you. Believe me, I'm a M.D. now, and no one from my high school would believe that I would have gotten here, but I have.
You want to change the world, and I admire your desires. There are so many things that you can do, but you just need to find your own niche, which unfortunately no one can tell you what that is. You will discover it for yourself. Think about Ernesto "Che" Guevara- who in South America was a medical student, but he's not remembered for being a doctor, but rather for being a great revolutionary (granted socialist- but that's not the point), and he did this when his eyes were opened, and wanted to do something. Warren Buffett one of the wealthiest men in the world- genius of the stock market and finance community has changed the world by donating the majority of his fortune to help the poor and down trodden.
You will find yourself, and don't let people tell you that you won't be something- because you really can be anything. If you stay passionate, and persistent, the world will bow to you.
Believe me- I've been there, and I hope one day after my training to be able to open a hospitals in India to help the poor to get the same medical care that we enjoy in the USA.
Best of luck,
AK
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At age 16, most people do not know for certain what they want to do for a career, and it looks like you aren't quite sure, either. That's totally fine. I think you should focus on closer issues first, though.
For example, before considering a career, you should think about your educational plans after high school. You said you aren't very smart, and let me tell you, I know how you feel. I doubt you are interested in joining the military, and for the goals you have in mind, attending college will most likely be necessary.
Believe it or not, even people who aren't smart make it through college. My brothers didn't take one advanced class in high school. They had probably a B or C average, but they both graduated and are fulfilling their dreams. I think you should start at a community college first. It would be much less expensive than a university, and classes at community colleges are usually less intense and rigorous than classes at 4-year schools. After you adjust to the college environment, you can transfer to a university.
After you decide if and where you want to go to college, you should look into majors. Some majors that I think you would enjoy are Political Science, Psycology, Sociology, Communications (you said you like public speaking), and a foreign language. You could possibly major in Political Science and minor in Communications, for example. Or you could get 2 degrees with different majors. It's completely up to you.
You certainly have more options for college majors than the ones I listed. I just jotted down some that I think you would accel in.
As for a career? Your decision will come with time. As you study in college, you can talk to your guidance counselor and ask about a job that would be right for you. School counselors usually have job placement tests that you can take to help determine what jobs you would like.
Good luck!
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I LOVE your spirit. You have totally silenced the voices that keep putting you down and telling you that you can't do it. If there were more people like you in the world, well, it would just be a great place :). Your prediciment is sticky. I have one answer for you. You have the spirit, and you have the drive now you just have to use those to get through the tough times and reach your goal. What i'm saying is, you just have to do well in school. If your not smart, study harder, if your not good at remembering stuff, make yourself better. You can't get where you wanna be the way your doing it. I don't care if your not smart, your only not smart because your telling yourself you arent. I know you can do it, I just do. If you get good grades you could become a journalist, a lawyer, a doctor. If you were a journalist you could go to foreign countries, see whats happening, and inform people. If you were a lawyer you could fight just about anything bad, and pave the way for other lawyers to be non-corrupt also. God, with your self confidence you could change the whole system. You have to be the change you want to see in the world. You have to change yourself, to change others lives. We're all rooting for you, & we know you can do it.
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Hey! I'm sixteen too, and I'm exactly like you. Well I think like you. I also am not book smart. I'm better with helping people by listening and solving their problems, you know. I take it you are a girl with an AMAZING heart, and you care for people, and are probably quite perceptive.
You have 3 qualities that WILL get you very far in life. I believe in you!! This makes me so happy actually! If more people were like you, this world could be so much better. I'm not good at suggesting what you should do really, but I would just like to say, that I support you, and I know you can make it. With an attitude like yours and the heart and soul to help others, you will make a HUGE difference in so many people's lives. I'm sorry I didnt really answer your question, but what you wrote really made me happy, I love that you care for others and its not just all about you. God bless!
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I believe that you're longing for good goals & that you will reach them.
In my opinion -- two professional fields will fit you greatly. Politics & Psychology.
You should consider them. They involve basically everything you're longing for.
Good luck.
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I see what you are tryin to say but you cant always save somebody what, I'm tryin to say is that you cant save everyone at once there will never be or maybe someday in the further there will be peace for everyone but untill now it cant as you see there is lot of things happing in the world everyday, every min and not one person can do much about it. But you can still help people, the ones that may need it the most,people may think you are not smart at math or whatever but you smart at heart. You care for people who in need and to me its somthing that most people dont do. But you can make a differance in the world, so the job that i think you might be good at is a physoloihst. Dont listen to other people because not everyone good at everything but they good at somthing just like you, you good of helping people and reaching out to them so keep up the good work.
good luck with things.
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I'm reminded of something my psychology teacher told me in my first psychology class... He said there are many different classifications of intelligence. For example, what you learn in school could be refered to as academic intelligence. There is also something called emotional intelligence... which I can tell you excel at. What I'm trying to tell you is that you ARE intelligent; you're just not giving yourself enough credit. So before you do anything... Stop listening to other people when they put you down and start believing in yourself.
Another thing that I want to share with you... I have a "save the world" complex. This is what I've learned... You can't change the whole world overnight. However... You can start by touching one life at a time. And even if you are never able to reach thousands of people remember that those you do touch... Is still a great accomplishment; whether it is recognized by anyone in your lifetime or not. Realize that the world changes... one person at a time. And remember that often, when you connect with one person at a time... You can make a lasting impression on that person's life.
Possible careers... There are so many possibilities and the sky is the limit. You could get envolved with numerous organizations... The Peace Corp. Enviromental Organizations, Non-profit organizations, even religious institutions... You could be a guidance counselor, teacher, pastor, nurse, social worker... Ever think about majoring in Human Services? That's something I would look into if I were you. (It doesn't take stellar grades either, just ask my roomate. :P) You could even start your own organization... My advice: use the information highway to your advantage to seek out possible careers. You also might want to look into taking aptitude test; maybe that could help you figure out what career would fit you best. And until you start college... Volunteer. This will count toward your future work experience... And you can make an impact on the lives of others NOW.
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you should be a physchologist. like a shrink. help people kind of like advicenators but in person. you get there if u want it by taking phsycology courses and sociology. or a social worker wud be a good one. you dont have to be book smart for tht. i wish you all the best with your career choices!
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That was very touching to read. I back what Michele said so I'll try not to repeat but I will say never let what anyone says about you phase you or what you want. Being able to talk to a lot of people all at once is never something you can learn from a text book, it's a skill you're born with. I've tried learning various languages and have always failed (even at learning my 'own' language) because again I just don't have the skill to be able to learn languages and keep that information there. You're very gifted and you've a big heart to want to help people - your an inspiration because it's people like you that show there may just still be hope for mankind. :]
Also, don't ever think what your hopes are nothing but dreams. It was only a dream (maybe even a foolish one) that could fly through the sky, that we can talk or even see people on the other side of the world, that mankind would reach out beyond our own planet and into space. All those things were dreams someone once had and now they are a reality becuase someone didn't give up. Never give up on your dreams.
"Just don't give up on trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong."
-Ella Fitzgerald.
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Oh my dear, you have everthing it takes, to help millions of people in the world. And you desire to help is the most important. But first of all, I think you should to to college, that you can get a job that will make a difference, and be in a position to make a difference. You need to take course in organizational management, globalization, and social sciences. These are the subjects you are interested in, and you will do well in them. And your ability with languages makes you EVEN MORE employable, and capable of reaching great levels within a global organization. ARmed with your education and ability to speak different lanugages, you could to work for the United Nations, or OXFAM, or any number of Non Governmental Organizations who help people around the world. If attending college is a problem, you could look into the peace corp. The may have an eduation program, whereby the fund some of your college education.
There are many foreign governments who look to hire US citizens that can speak different languages, to work for them. I get this magazine called THE ECONOMIST, in the back there a hundreds of jobs looking for people with your skills and talents, and they pay very well. I wish I was your age today, I would do exactly what it is that you are planning. My degree is in accounting and that is what I do best, and that is what pays the bills, but maybe when I retire, I can go to work for a non-profit agency that is making a difference in the world.
I get a number of newsletters from non profit agencies that are trying to do just that, join one of them an volunteer. Subscribe to their newsletters and educate yourself on the issues that are harming people today. Lack of clean drinking water, malaria, aids, the ability to make generic drugs in poor developing countries.
Check out this website. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
or this one [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
or this one [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Please don't say college is out of the question,
each state has state colleges and universities, and state residents get to attend them at a lower rate than out of state students, and if you can commute, you save even more over living on campus. My son attends state college here in CT and he commutes, and it does not cost more than $8,000 a year, of which 1/2 was paid with financial aid, and i/2with loans. AFter four years of college he has only $10,000 in loans. That is not bad. You can do this, you have the deisre and the smarts, and all of the non-profit agencies would love to have someone just like you.
I have confidence that you will go far, and I hope that I have helped. Good luck to you honey.
Michele
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First off, I want to say that you are a completely AMAZING person. I myself have such a huge love for humanity that no one seems to understand. And I really like how passionate you are in this.
You should be proud of yourself because this is something that is extremely hard to find in people and it really is an awesome quality to have.
If more people had this kind of mentality, we would be living in a world waaay better than this one.
And don't worry about books smarts. Anyone can read and memorize things and get good grades. But that's not what's going to help you survive in the real world.
I don't know what career to offer you really, The advice I give you is just to not be afraid to get out there in the real world. Meet new people, Go to new places... You're going to meet a whole lot of people that may make you rething this dream you have, but never let them get to you.
As you get older you'll find your place in this world. Just keep your mind open and don't let people put you down ever.
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Though you are not book smart, I don't know why anyone should call you stupid. I personally am booksmart and I call people stupid, but only if they don't seem to try at all in things. You are trying to save the world, this is good. Modern day Martin Luther King for the homeless and weak.
While you probably could not be a Lawyer or Doctor, a journalist isn't out of the question. You could write free articles, since you are persuasive and reach out you can write about the pain people are suffering. Spell check and editors can help you with grammar.
Or you can become a part of a foundation. Like AIDS help like I wish to be, PETA (though they scare me) and others. You could go from country to counrty speaking out against homelessness and corruption.
Social worker is also good. You could help people when needy people come in. And while you believe doctor is out, they certainly don't connect with patients as well as nurses. Ever watched the movie Patch Adams? I think you should.
There are many different jobs that can go with your strengths. I'm sure you can find one. Everyone can make a difference.
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**I'm glad I was able to help. If you want to create a website, please try to contact me via IM(info is on my column), so I can set everything up for you speedily. Have a few pages of your website complete(text and images only, no need to use html).**
Some charitable organizations pay, just like any other job. You might like that. Or you could start your own organization. I could even host and design a site for you, for free. You might be good in politics, not all polititians were lawyers and had good grades. Click my name and scroll down for my contact info, if you want a website(for any reason). Good luck!
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yes. there are a lot of kinds of smart. i'm not book smart. im not street smart because i dont live in the city either. however, helping people is what i would consider a great skill and you have just described how you can affect the world using your heart. there are social workers, translators, counselors, therapists, and other types of jobs and more you can look into, all very good jobs that involve compassion. but you want something bigger and better. i think that for example, a social worker, is just as good. in the long run you may help prevent crime in impoverished areas. im not sure what kind of job would run in the bigger levels. hopefully another user will provide more answers for you. doctors, lawyers, and journalists are jobs typically sought after and dreamed about, yes, but not all the options that are out there. not everyone is suited for those kinds of careers. your passion seems to be in helping people. i think it does take one person to save the world. that person may inspire others to do the same and produce a ripple effect that reaches out to the whole world. you never know!
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