Post by Sabeine on May 18, 2004 6:01:03 GMT -5
I am at a crossroads right now. I need to decide what it is I'd like to do here.
Currently I am in school taking, Swedish, History, and Math. Our semester will end next week. During the summer I have signed up for two classes continuing my Math and Swedish. These will be done through distance/internet since our school does not offer in class summer school.
During the past year that I have been in school full time I had thought to study so that I could continue to University. Now I am not so sure. I have a bachelor's from the US in Political Science with a History minor. I had thought to continue for a Master's here but I am reconsidering now since I am unsure of what I would like to do with that Master's afterwards. I am currently receiving CSN (student loan) money and this is adding up. It seems ridiculous how much time it takes just to get the language and "complement" classes to be admitted into the University. I was told that of course I needed the Swedish which is understandable, but I was also told to take Samhällskunskap A and Historia A which is the equivilent of Political Science and History 101 in the States. Though I explained that I have taken those courses before I was told that I needed them here in Sweden as well. I also needed Math which I have had as well in the US. Now I find out that many courses that I will have to take once at the University are courses that I have had or very similar ones in the US. I just see the large escalating loan in front of me and I haven't even begun on my Master's. The fact that I am at a loss as to what to do with it afterwards does not help at all. I have taken personality tests, vocational tests and a few in between to figure out what is the career for me and each time I tend to end up more confused. It is an awful feeling. I am 32 and don't know what I'd like to do for a career here in Sweden. In the US though I had a degree in P.S. I worked as a RE agent. It had nothing to do with my degree though in the US they aren't as stringent with it, they accept the degree with a broader scope. Here that is not the case. One needs to have the exact degree in the field one applies to work in.
I have come to realize about myself that I like to help those that cannot help themselves i.e. physically, mentally disabled people, and the elderly. I had worked in a day care facility for 3 years many years ago and did like it, though quit due to school. The pay was pretty bad though, and it was hard to make a living even though I worked more than fulltime/ 50 hours a week.
It has been recommended to me that I might like working in an äldreboende here, a nursing home. I am not sure about this, I think one has to work at such a place for a while to get a feel for it. I have never worked in one of these places only visited them.
There is a program at our school called Omvård which gives education and training to those who which to work in an äldreboende. The education ranges from Geriatric care, to Psychology, basic education in medicine, and Ethics and work enviornment etc... there are others as well though they are too long to list. The course is either a 1 year program or 1.5 years depending on how deep one whiches to study. This sounds interesting to me though I am unsure. I am plagued with doubt. What if I take the course/s then realize it wasn't for me? How much time will I have wasted? These are the questions flying around in my head.
Does anyone here know someone who has gone to these courses and if they liked them? Did they find meaningful work in this field afterwards, and do they feel that they made the right choice?
Any advice or help is really appreciated. Oh, and sorry this ended up being VERY long.
Currently I am in school taking, Swedish, History, and Math. Our semester will end next week. During the summer I have signed up for two classes continuing my Math and Swedish. These will be done through distance/internet since our school does not offer in class summer school.
During the past year that I have been in school full time I had thought to study so that I could continue to University. Now I am not so sure. I have a bachelor's from the US in Political Science with a History minor. I had thought to continue for a Master's here but I am reconsidering now since I am unsure of what I would like to do with that Master's afterwards. I am currently receiving CSN (student loan) money and this is adding up. It seems ridiculous how much time it takes just to get the language and "complement" classes to be admitted into the University. I was told that of course I needed the Swedish which is understandable, but I was also told to take Samhällskunskap A and Historia A which is the equivilent of Political Science and History 101 in the States. Though I explained that I have taken those courses before I was told that I needed them here in Sweden as well. I also needed Math which I have had as well in the US. Now I find out that many courses that I will have to take once at the University are courses that I have had or very similar ones in the US. I just see the large escalating loan in front of me and I haven't even begun on my Master's. The fact that I am at a loss as to what to do with it afterwards does not help at all. I have taken personality tests, vocational tests and a few in between to figure out what is the career for me and each time I tend to end up more confused. It is an awful feeling. I am 32 and don't know what I'd like to do for a career here in Sweden. In the US though I had a degree in P.S. I worked as a RE agent. It had nothing to do with my degree though in the US they aren't as stringent with it, they accept the degree with a broader scope. Here that is not the case. One needs to have the exact degree in the field one applies to work in.
I have come to realize about myself that I like to help those that cannot help themselves i.e. physically, mentally disabled people, and the elderly. I had worked in a day care facility for 3 years many years ago and did like it, though quit due to school. The pay was pretty bad though, and it was hard to make a living even though I worked more than fulltime/ 50 hours a week.
It has been recommended to me that I might like working in an äldreboende here, a nursing home. I am not sure about this, I think one has to work at such a place for a while to get a feel for it. I have never worked in one of these places only visited them.
There is a program at our school called Omvård which gives education and training to those who which to work in an äldreboende. The education ranges from Geriatric care, to Psychology, basic education in medicine, and Ethics and work enviornment etc... there are others as well though they are too long to list. The course is either a 1 year program or 1.5 years depending on how deep one whiches to study. This sounds interesting to me though I am unsure. I am plagued with doubt. What if I take the course/s then realize it wasn't for me? How much time will I have wasted? These are the questions flying around in my head.
Does anyone here know someone who has gone to these courses and if they liked them? Did they find meaningful work in this field afterwards, and do they feel that they made the right choice?
Any advice or help is really appreciated. Oh, and sorry this ended up being VERY long.
