What Should I Be When I Grow Up: Preetisha’s Story
Asking yourself, “What should I be when I grow up?” It’s totally normal – it takes a long time to channel your interests, talents and passions into an ultimate career decision. Even upperclassmen don’t have it all figured out.
To get a good idea of where you should be by the end of high school, we interviewed Preetisha Sen, a high school senior. Read her interview and found out how her career exploration process went from middle school all the way to the last semester of senior year.
What Should I Be When I Grow Up?
with Preetisha Sen… and Alleyoop
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Alleyoop: What did you want to be in middle school?
Preetisha’s Answer: A Flight Attendant“In middle school, possible careers never crossed my mind! I always told myself I wanted to be a flight attendant, because European countries really intrigued me. I never stopped to analyze what academic interests I had, and what those interests might mean for my future career.” |
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Alleyoop: What made you change your mind?
Preetisha’s Answer: The PLAN Test“My mindset continued like this until I took the PLAN test sophomore year. The result sheet of the PLAN test shows a career wheel that highlights possible careers are best suited for you. My possible careers included being a photographer, interior designer, reporter, social worker, lawyer, waitress, barber or travel guide — and that’s only half of them. What is a 15-year-old girl supposed to do with so many options?” |
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Alleyoop: Then what?
Preetisha’s Answer: Research!“That’s when I knew that it was time to do more research on my own. If a standardized test is telling me that all these careers are only possible options, then there are way too many professions out there for me. Although I wish that I could have ten different careers, the fact is that there just isn’t time to be a reporter and a lawyer and a social worker!” |
“This was my stepping stone to starting to figure out my future. Even though I’m still narrowing down my interests, I have come a long way from the girl who was staring at her PLAN test utterly confused about the million options that awaited her.”
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Preetisha Sen is a high school senior and Alleyoop student blogger.