5 Careers I Would Pursue

The majority of today's youth has a lot of pressure placed upon them to get good grades so they can go to an excellent college, which will hopefully one day secure them a great career. The "acceptable" professions are seen as those in the medical field, business and marketing, and education to name a few. Other majors such as art and music are seen as "hobbies" or fun ways to pass the time, but many parents don't encourage their children to become artists or musicians. Not to say that one can't become a wealthy artist or performer, but a lot of parents don't view it as a stable or reliable form of employment.

I started out as a pre-med major and have now shifted my focus to marketing and advertising. I come from a highly educated family: my father has a PhD and several MAs from Harvard University, and my mother also has a degree in English and has taught at universities all over the world. My grandparents are alumni of USC, and all my relatives are in the law or medical field, so my attending school and getting a good job are very important to my entire family. If I were to not attend college, my whole family would find that very difficult to accept. I have high goals for myself and don't want to disappoint my family, so of course I am going to graduate from college. However, there are moments when I fantasize about other random and fun careers that I could pursue, in another lifetime perhaps.

Career # 5) A professional matchmaker. I think this would be such an exciting and fulfilling career. I would get to deal with many different people, and I think it would be very satisfying to see two people that I introduced get married and start a family together. I'm pretty good at reading people, and I've predicted all of my friend's relationships. I can tell if two people will hit it off or not, and I know a thing or two about relationships, so I think I would be a very objective and realistic matchmaker.

Career #4) A professional photographer on set of Abercrombie & Fitch photo shoots. Come on, A & F, how many more layouts are you going to have in black and white of half-naked models playing rugby? Let's try shooting them in sepia this time around, and let's have them climbing mountains in underwear and climbing up coconut trees in the South Pacific! I have plenty of ideas for layouts and shoots, and I would love to put them into action. And who would object to being around a bunch of gorgeous and shirtless men all day long?

Career #3) A screen writer/movie director. Amy Heckerling (director of Clueless and Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and Sofia Coppola (director of Marie Antoinette and Lost in Translation) are my idols in the industry. I have so many interesting ideas that I would love to put into script and have performedt. I would be actively involved in the movie making process, and would also want to compile the soundtracks for my films as well as serve as the casting director and costume/set design. It's not even because I"m a control freak, it's simply because I would love to be involved in as many aspects of my movies as possible.

Career #2) A radio disc-jockey. I love music, and I love to talk. Put the two together, and what do you have? A DJ! I would start my own radio show that would focus on electronica and underground club/house/trance music from all over the world. I would search for obscure music that no one had heard of before, and bring fame to unknown artists. I would make cd compilations and market them to record labels, and if given the chance, I would even start a European music duo named "Hansel and Gretel" and write a few electronica songs and hopefully get them a hit single. Or at least get their music played in Abercrombie & Fitch stores across the nation. I would be satisfied with just that.

Career #1 ) A professional female surfer. I would want to be just like Keala Kennelly or Layne Beachley, two of the world's top-ranked female surfers. There is a lot of competition out there, but if you can make it to the top, you're in for a real treat. How great a career would this be? I would be getting paid to surf at the beach, I would be in top shape, and I would receive all kinds of free gifts and sponsorships. I would have the opportunity to become famous, be on posters, be featured in commercials and print ads, not to mention that I would have the chance to mingle with all the other surfers who I admire. And I would get to travel the world! It couldn't get any better than that, and that is why this is my number one career choice.

Ah, if only I could...