This Coursera course has been more helpful than I realized. After creating a mind map toward the beginning of the course and creating one toward the end, I realize that there was a difference. My mind map at the beginning of the course reflects more of a divergence route. It was very broad and included everything from medicine to research to writing to teaching to advocacy and everything in between. I took this course because I wanted to narrow down my career path, but as I made that initial mind map, I realized how much actually interested me. To be completely honest, it was a bit intimidating to realize that I had all of these interests, and I wasn’t sure how to combine them all into one career. I now realize that combining all of these interests into one career is pretty unrealistic. I can pursue these interests in multiple ways that don’t all have to be career oriented. I can continue to be a migraine advocate without needing to be a headache specialist This Coursera course has been more helpful than I realized. After creating a mind map toward the beginning of the course and creating one toward the end, I realize that there was a difference. My mind map at the beginning of the course reflects more of a divergence route. It was very broad and included everything from medicine to research to writing to teaching to advocacy and everything in between. I took this course because I wanted to narrow down my career path, but as I made that initial mind map, I realized how much actually interested me. To be completely honest, it was a bit intimidating to realize that I had all of these interests, and I wasn’t sure how to combine them all into one career. I now realize that combining all of these interests into one career is pretty unrealistic. I can pursue these interests in multiple ways that don’t all have to be career oriented. I can continue to be a migraine advocate without needing to be a headache specialist. In fact, being a headache specialist, which I originally thought would be a great career path for me, wouldn’t be the best career path for me, something I discovered after doing some reflection on feasibility thanks to this course.
My mind map now is much more detailed and less broad, a model closer to convergence. It shows that I now have narrowed my interests to education and research. Although I haven’t forgotten my interests in writing and advocacy, I recognize that these may be interests I pursue in my free time. I have come up with career ideas such as working in academia as a professor and/or researcher, becoming a high school teacher, working at an education-centered organization that works on improving the way we educate, etc. that best address my core interests and are feasible options for me.
Although my career search is not over, this course has definitely given me better direction for that search. Over the winter break, I plan to work on the rule of 3s by doing some research on 3 different perspectives in education: teaching, research, and “industry.” I will then find at least 3 different schools/companies doing those jobs that best align with my interests for each of the 3. Finally, I will look through the alumni database and LinkedIn to find people to as for an informational interview. I hope that this will be helpful and continue my career search started
