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Offlinebhamlaxy
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"what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback
    #7701356 - 11/30/07 11:32 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

So I'm a sophomore at a respectable university. I've just been focusing on core classes up until now, and it's time that I formally declare a major.

I've got a few options that I'm rolling around in my head for now. I've found the shroomery to be a great community to bounce ideas around with, and I was hoping I could get some feedback. If any of you have worked in either field or done either major, I'd love to find out how you like it, and any useful bits of information you wish to share. If you work in either of these areas and could take the time to talk to me about them, I'd be very happy if you would PM me your AIM name or something, so we could chat about it.

So here are the two major options.

1. Political Science major with minor in marketing.

The plan- My focus with this would be in campaign management and lobbying. I worked for a political campaign as an intern last year, and I loved the work. No two days were the same, and it was always challenging work. I'd be going towards two main careers. The first would be campaign management. I'd either work for individual candidates or campaigns. The goal would be to work as a lobbyist somewhere along the line for one of the dozens of lobbying firms in D.C., where I'd work at turning clients interests into political results. The minor would be useful for "marketing" political candidates or ideas.

How it connects to me- I've been on the debate team for the past 5 years, so politics in general, current events, and policymaking are a major interest of mine. I've always enjoyed things politics related.

Benefits:
- Variety of challenging work.
- Ability to work for candidates or issues that affect me
- Work that personally interests me
- Internships and jobs galore: I can have a campaign or politics related job until I graduate, I've got so many opportunities right now its hard to choose.
- If I became a lobbyist, money isn't too shabby
- Incredibly specific course work offered (political marketing, managing a political campaign)

Negatives:
- Lobbying is almost completely exclusive to Washington D.C. No geographic flexibility
- Many campaigns end on election day, work may not always be stable.
- Politics can be a slimy business. I like it, but I don't like some aspects of it. I may be asked to do things that I'm morally opposed to (lobbyist for bad industry or something)
- Work as a lobbyist may be extremely competitive.
- Money for campaigns isn't too good
- I smoke weed. Would probably be generally acceptable among low level campaigns, but may become a problem later. I won't be a total toker, but I'd like to enjoy a nice J a few times a month or something.

2. Psychology major (possible minor in psychology of crime and justice, or just criminal justice)

The plan- My focus would be in substance abuse counseling and therapy, working with either kids or adults as a psychologist, helping them work through drug or alcohol addiction. It could take place in a rehab type facility, a school, or a private practice.

Why it connects to me- I have a general interest in drugs and psychology, as shown by being a member of this forum. On a personal level, I spent a few days a month at my dads house, and I have a step brother around my age. He and I both started smoking and doing psychedelics together a few years ago. I kept it at a reasonable level, and I'm in college now. He sort of fell off the cliff, started heavily doing cocaine, ecstasy, heroin etc, which led to a slew of legal problems. It started with cocaine possession, then a DUI (bumped down to just alcohol possession), and ended up leaving his house near the end of his senior year because he just wanted to do drugs all day. It culminated when he was arrested the night before his high school graduation for breaking and entering into a neighbors house and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, landing him in prison for 6 months. I also have a few family members that have died from alcoholism related illness, or are currently alcoholics. It troubles me to see loved ones who abuse drugs to the point where it ruins their lives, and I want to help people overcome these problems.

Benefits:
It is work I feel that I would enjoy, and hopefully make a difference in peoples lives.
Psychology in general is an area that is very interesting to me.
My school offers very specific drug and drug abuse related psychology classes
This is a job with a pretty wide geographic range
I feel like I have some personal experience in this arena. I've experienced the effects of drugs, and seen how they can suck you in to serious addiction.
Working one on one with people is appealing to me.
Possibility of living in other countries.

Negatives:
I smoke weed and occasionally do psychedelics, and I'm a firm believer the idea of safe and reasonable use of drugs. My biggest fear is an atmosphere of complete anti-drug use in a potential work place. I'll always be pro-legalization of marijuana, and feel that certain drugs can provide benefits to the user. I would be morally opposed to lying about the effects of drug use. I wouldn't be promoting drug use or anything, I'm just afraid of becoming a part of the problem that keeps things like marijuana illegal. I'm not willing to change my personal beliefs on the subject, although I would keep them on the down low if necessary.
Drug testing- I could probably quit smoking if I were to be constantly tested, I would wish to continue at least occasionally smoking weed and doing psychedelics.
It seems like pay is pretty low, although not too bad.
It will be harder to get an internship or experience during college

I'm guessing that at least someone on the shroomery works in this area. I'd love to get some feedback about my concerns, and some general information about the occupation, and how your beliefs on drugs jive with your workplace duties.


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OfflineRonaldFuckingPaul
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7701359 - 11/30/07 11:33 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Become a porn star:blowjob:


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Offline2FiNiTe
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Registered: 06/12/06
Posts: 1,635
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: RonaldFuckingPaul]
    #7701367 - 11/30/07 11:36 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

reeferaddict69 said:
Become a porn star:blowjob:



:thumbup:

Look at the upside..lots of money...and if your lucky you could poop on a bitch maybe?


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"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living."

General Omar N. Bradley


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InvisibleLeftyBurnz
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Posts: 24,570
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: 2FiNiTe]
    #7701393 - 11/30/07 11:45 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

dont become a lobbyist. they all end up corrupt.


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InvisibleWhiskeyClone
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7701396 - 11/30/07 11:46 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

I'd go with door number one

Don't look to the pub to choose your major for you though


--------------------
Welcome evermore to gods and men is the self-helping man.  For him all doors are flung wide: him all tongues greet, all honors crown, all eyes follow with desire.  Our love goes out to him and embraces him, because he did not need it.

~ R.W. Emerson, "Self-Reliance"

:heartpump:


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
Posts: 714
Loc: Nevada
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: WhiskeyClone]
    #7701411 - 11/30/07 11:50 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Don't look to the pub to choose your major for you though



Yea, I'm not like posting a poll and asking "choose my destiny!" I'm just looking for some help. I've seen people who worked in the substance abuse field before here, so I'm really trying to seek them out to get to know the field from someone in it.


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OfflineNephlyte
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7701454 - 12/01/07 12:03 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Well i decided on majoring in political science and it really enriched my life. Its especially great for knowledge and expanding your horizons. I found the job market to be lackluster though. Of course that not really why i was taking that major. If you have a line for internships, then you may have a line for a job in the future. Especially if you end up working with the same people over and over again on campaigns.

A marketing or business minor is a great compliment for poli sci. Do not minor in philosophy, that really fucked me up. I got kind of disillusioned with the world and having a future(especially since i complimented my philosophy minor with serious soul searching and psychedelics).

Another bonus to a poli sci major is that its a perfect major for continuing your education, should you want to do that. I'm in law school now and i think a polisci major/philosophy minor really got me where i am.

by the way, don't worry about anyone telling you your planned career path will lead you to sell out. You have to sell out in some form or another unless you are seriously skilled in a craft or you plan on making less than 30k/year for the rest of your life.


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
Posts: 714
Loc: Nevada
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: Nephlyte]
    #7701620 - 12/01/07 01:33 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Thats also a semi-possibility. Being a debater has given me the natural ability to argue, so law school-to-lawyer has always been a slight possibility. Although I have some apprehension about working in the legal system (YUCK!)


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InvisibleAroundtheSon
Learning to See
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Registered: 01/11/07
Posts: 4,427
Loc: Midwest.
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7701775 - 12/01/07 03:41 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

To make any money, you will need at least a Master's in Psychology - a doctorate in some states.

Look into your state's licensure programs to see what you will need. An alcohol "counseling certificate" can be awarded here from an institution, but its value is little.

Good luck on whatever you choose, and always let your :heartpump: be your guide.


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Invisiblemachination
Stranger
Registered: 09/17/07
Posts: 705
Loc: Hringhorni
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: AroundtheSon]
    #7701781 - 12/01/07 03:49 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

nasa


--------------------
"Have you not learned that your word is bond? Yes, my word is bond and bond is life, I shall give my life, before my word shall fail."


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
Posts: 714
Loc: Nevada
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: AroundtheSon]
    #7701859 - 12/01/07 06:03 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Yea, I forgot to mention that. I'd be pursuing at least a masters degree.


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Offlinerexmundi
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Registered: 08/10/07
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7702210 - 12/01/07 09:59 AM (16 years, 2 months ago)

I'm taking poli sci and I think marketing would be a good complement, although I believe it is riskier for selling out than say the philosophy minor.

I've really enjoyed the poli sci I've done so far, and I'm applying to law school in February, in my experience, most lobbyists are also lawyers.

I can also relate to the soul searching and pyschedelics, you do need to be careful. Political science can be some depressing stuff and after enough hallucinogens you might feel disillusioned about finding a place in the world, or at least a morally acceptable one. I specialized in conflict and poverty for the last two years and it was hard.

I'm trying to make peace with the prospect of law, and hopefully minimize the selling out, by focusing on what I believe to be moral, and prioritizing that over money and success. It will be hard, but if it gets too bad, I'll just build a cabin beside a pond.

I guess this doesn't really help you decide, but I thought I'd throw in my experience.

good luck.


--------------------
"I Love Democracy"
-Emporer Palpatine


Fuck the system.


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Offlinerazmablues
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7702660 - 12/01/07 12:30 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

i'd go with psych for sure... the polysci field tends to land people in office jobs :puke:

psych would be awesome, get to deal with alot of the different people and do your best to help them out, + you dont have to go through the pains a psychiatric has to go through to do it!!!


--------------------
soft silly music is meaningful, magical :heartpump:


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OfflineNephlyte
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7703438 - 12/01/07 04:41 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

bhamlaxy said:
Thats also a semi-possibility. Being a debater has given me the natural ability to argue, so law school-to-lawyer has always been a slight possibility. Although I have some apprehension about working in the legal system (YUCK!)




Well, i'll give you a quick warning right now. You really have to have a passion for the work. The money will never make up for the oppression of the job.

But if you do have the passion, law school has been very rewarding so far (only one semester in). I've also come to realized i made a good choice.

Although, personally i would lean away from any sort of drug counselor, they are far to steep in that 12 step bullshit(or some similar nonsense about drug and alcohol abuse). And i'm sure you'll be either indoctrinated or forced to conform to these beliefs. Whether you take these beliefs to heart or not won't matter because you'll probably be forced to apply them in practice.

Also, at all the drug treatment places i was forced to enter, the counselors there had drug/alcohol problems in their past. So if you plan on counseling people, it might be a good idea to work on one of those while you can still claim you have been "cured".

Sorry, there is something about being forced to take something that makes you hate it.


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana


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OfflineVisionsToReality
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Registered: 09/22/07
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: Nephlyte]
    #7703622 - 12/01/07 05:29 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Just do what you can see yourself loving to do. This isn't a major, this is your life you are deciding.


--------------------
Life is one big road with lots of signs,
So when you're ridin' through the ruts,
Don't you complicate your mind.

Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy
Don't bury your thoughts,
Put your vision to reality, yeah!


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Offlinewilshire
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7703668 - 12/01/07 05:42 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

neither of these paths will give you many options right out of college other than grad school. as someone who has graduated recently and is now working, i say look at this as a plus.


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: wilshire]
    #7704501 - 12/01/07 09:39 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Great advice. I'm definitely looking for more confirmation on the atmosphere of overall drug use is. Aren't there more "liberal" drug rehab type places that rely less on nasty 12 step systems and propaganda?


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OfflineNephlyte
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Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7704679 - 12/01/07 10:43 PM (16 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

bhamlaxy said:
Great advice. I'm definitely looking for more confirmation on the atmosphere of overall drug use is. Aren't there more "liberal" drug rehab type places that rely less on nasty 12 step systems and propaganda?




Good point, my experiences revolve around fairly low class style drug rehab places. Perhaps the 12 step plan works on high school drop outs better than people with bachelor degrees.


--------------------
"To do right is to know what you want. Now when you are dissatisfied with yourself it's because you are after something you don't really want. What objects are you proposing to yourself? Are they the objects you really value? If they are not, you are cheating yourself. I don't meant that if you chose to pursue the objects you most value, you will attain them; of course not. Your experience will tell you that. But success in getting after much labor what you really don't care for is the bitterest and most ridiculous failure." -George Santayana


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
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Loc: Nevada
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: Nephlyte]
    #7707194 - 12/02/07 03:56 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

Yea, all the drug rehab type things I've encountered have been shitty to. Nothing but propaganda. My step brother also went to an extremely expensive rehab place, but it focused on Christianity... BLEH!!!


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Offlinebhamlaxy
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Registered: 01/23/05
Posts: 714
Loc: Nevada
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7712305 - 12/03/07 06:29 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

I'm starting to lean towards poli sci. It seems as though the drug counseling field may be a bit too conservative for me.


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Invisiblebadchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,372
Re: "what I want to be when I grow up" dilemma- looking for some feedback [Re: bhamlaxy]
    #7712329 - 12/03/07 06:34 PM (16 years, 1 month ago)

There are plenty of fields looking at ways of helping people with drug abuse. Search with the keyword "contingency management" on pubmed. There are all sorts of fields looking at this, all taking place in college based, liberal settings.


--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge.  It is an indellible experience; it is forever known.  I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P.  Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H.  Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436


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